In the complex therapy of the cervical chondrosis (degenerative disc disease) are injection solutions, ointments, creams, pills, dragees. Medications good at dealing with pain, swelling, inflammation, loss of sensitivity, dizziness, irregular blood pressure.
Characteristic features of the disease
For cervical degenerative disc disease is accompanied by slow, irreversible destruction of the intervertebral discs. Deprived of the shock-absorbing cartilage pads, bone vertebrae also begin to deform. To spinal cord specialist or neurologist, patients complain of sharp or aching pain, stiffness, dizziness with a sharp rise, therefore, treatment schemes consist of drugs with different properties:
- external funds with local anesthetic, regenerating, warming effect;
- drugs that ensure adequate nutrition of the brain;
- chondroprotectors that triggers the processes of recovery discs;
- local and systemic analgesics.
Pathology is not yet amenable to complete cure. The doctors ' efforts aimed at eliminating the painful symptoms, stopping the disease from spreading to other parts of the spine. For this purpose composed of complex therapeutic schemes with the use of drugs of different groups.
Signs of cervical chondrosis
In the initial stages of development of the disease the symptoms in women and men are virtually absent. Occasionally a weak man troubled by discomfort in the evening. He writes off their fatigue after a working day, so the doctor does not apply. In the meantime, its intervertebral discs gradually collapse. Deformed vertebrae with the formation of bone spurs, squeezing the vertebral artery. About a year later to replace the uncomfortable feelings come pain, worse when turning or tilting the head. Chondrosis is manifested by such symptoms:
- clicks, and crackling in the neck;
- limitation of range of motion;
- irregular blood pressure;
- heart palpitations;
- migrenepodobnykh unilateral pulsating headaches;
- visual and auditory disorders;
- dizziness, unsteadiness of gait, feeling the imaginary rotation of the objects;
- nausea, vomiting rarely ending.
Due to oxygen starvation of the brain upset sleep, arise weakness, lethargy, fatigue, ringing in the ears. Deteriorating mental and emotional state — he becomes nervous, anxious for nothing.
The principles of drug therapy
The treatment of cervical chondrosis involved chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists, doctors of physical therapy. At the final stage allowed the use of folk remedies. But the main role in the complex pharmacological therapy designated drugs. Demand for all dosage forms:
- injection solutions are used in exacerbations of chondrosis for the rapid elimination of its painful symptoms;
- tablets, capsules, pills prescribed at the time of remission to prevent burst, relieving mild or moderate pain, restore circulation;
- ointments, gels, balms, creams are the most secure, quickly cope with the stiffness, unpleasant crunch.
Rarely get to treat degenerative disc disease to any one drug. In the therapeutic schemes generally include at least 5 funds with different pharmacological properties. They are combined, it is convenient to use at home.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs more often than other drugs used in the treatment of cervical chondrosis. They are indicated for acute, penetrating or distant, dull pain. The mechanism of action of NSAIDs is based on the ability to inhibit the enzymes responsible for the production of neurotransmitters. All NSAIDs have a complex effect on the human body:
- eliminate painful sensations;
- eliminate the rustling, the clicking that occurs when turning the neck;
- stop for acute, subacute, and chronic inflammatory processes affecting the soft tissue;
- stimulate the reduction of edema, which infringes on sensitive nerve endings;
- increase the range of motion in damaged cervical vertebrae.
In the treatment of chondrosis is well proven drugs in the form of solutions for parenteral administration. From tablets practiced purpose. Long-term use of NSAIDs causes damage to the mucous membranes of the stomach. This will help avoid concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors . Drugs to reduce secretion by the parietal cells of the aggressive gastric juice, which is increased under the influence of NSAIDs.
Synthetic hormones
Corticosteroids — synthetic analogues of the hormones produced by the adrenal cortex. This is the "heavy artillery" of medical treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease. Like natural hormones, glucocorticosteroids quickly cropped inflammation, swelling, almost instantly eliminate the pain. They are used in the form of solutions for intramuscular injection. But when pain is acute it may be applied directly to the area of the destroyed intervertebral disc. Therapy aggravated pathologies is hormonal therapy. Just one injection to the painful feeling did not appear for 3-5 days. Corticosteroids are prescribed to patients with degenerative disc disease with the ineffectiveness of NSAIDs. All in a wide range of their potential side effects. Too frequent use of hormones causes damage to muscle, bone, tendon and ligaments. Hormonal agents are forbidden to use during pregnancy, lactation, in adolescence and childhood. All corticosteroids have a lot of contraindications. In clinical practice, the abolition of cases of severe liver, kidney, stomach after long-term hormone therapy. They do not apply in the presence of liver cirrhosis, peptic ulcer, renal insufficiency, osteoporosis.
Drugs with chondroprotective effect
All the tools that are used in the treatment of chondrosis, only eliminate its symptoms on time improving the health of the person. The only exception — chondroprotectors. The composition of these drugs include ingredients that can trigger the restoration of the destroyed cartilaginous intervertebral discs. Neck stops hurting after use do not disappear for a few hours, but forever. Pharmacies chondroprotectors presented in a wide range. Is a capsule, of a substance for the preparation of injection solutions, powders, in packets. The most well-known cartilage protectors with proven therapeutic efficacy in demand.
Means of improving microcirculation
Popular medicine to improve blood circulation in cervical osteochondrosis -nicotinate. These drugs are used in treatment of high severity, when deformed not only discs but also bone vertebrae. Compression of the vertebral artery is manifested by cervicobrachialgia. So is called a set of symptoms of infringement of the vertebral artery: headache, "flies" before the eyes, temporary visual disturbances, sweating, palpitations. To improve the microcirculation, to eliminate the "vertebral artery syndrome" helps thioctic acid. It is part produced in the form of tablets, solutions for parenteral administration. The disadvantage of such medicines is indiscriminate effects, as they promote blood flow throughout the body, which is not always appropriate. Therefore, the list of contraindications included epilepsy, hyperthyroidism, peptic ulcer disease.
Drugs vitamins of group B
Treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease in the acute stage is not complete without the use of drugs, the composition of which is formed from vitamins of group B. the fact that the sharp bony growths vertebral not only infringe upon the vertebral artery. They put pressure on sensitive nerve roots, upsetting innervation. Nerve impulses arrive in the Central nervous system with a delay that slowed her response. The violation of innervation lead to paresthesia — loss of sensitivity of certain areas of the body. Medication in the treatment of cervical chondrosis well proven drugs whose activity is defined by pyridoxine, thiamin, B12. Many of them are produced in the form of solutions for intramuscular injection. It contains B vitamins and anesthetic. Therefore, after performing the injection disappears pain, reduced range of motion in the area of the cervical vertebrae. At the same time the tool improves blood circulation, functioning of the nervous, muscular and cardiovascular systems, relieves inflammation, degeneration of nerves. There are contraindications to its use. It pregnancy and breastfeeding, hypersensitivity to ingredients.
Best muscle relaxants
Eliminate mild symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease treatment at home and its exacerbations is often difficult muscle spasms. The nerve root compressed by the protruding intervertebral discs, and inflammatory edema. Causing severe pain syndrome, which the body tries to eliminate the muscle spasm. With this kind of defensive reaction limited to the mobility of the person, uncomfortable feelings disappear. But often increased tone of skeletal muscles becomes more pressure on the nerve endings. Appears so intense pain that you can deal with it only with the help of muscle relaxants. Muscle relaxants combined with all the facilities for medical treatment of chondrosis, including corticosteroids. They are well tolerated by the body, but some can be addictive and "withdrawal". Therefore, they are not intended for long-term therapy. The duration of the treatment course no more than a week.
Drugs improve emotional state
Of all the cervical chondrosis it particularly affects the psycho-emotional state of a person. It's all in the infringement of the bony outgrowths of the vertebral artery, which leads to hypoxia of the brain. The patient suffers from atypical pathologies of the musculoskeletal system symptoms:
- panic attacks;
- depression;
- visual and auditory disorders;
- dry unproductive cough;
- shortness of breath;
- anxiety, apathy, fatigue;
- various sleep disorders.
You do not need to do when they appear — to use medicines for cough, eye or ear drops. To eliminate the symptoms often get directional reception means with a mild sedative effect.
Vitamin-balanced set
Most vitamins, essential micro - and macronutrients enter the human organism together with food. But not always the food can provide a physiological need or is an incorrect absorption, distribution. For example, in disorders of blood circulation, which is characteristic for cervical degenerative disc disease. There is a deficiency of bioactive substances, which negatively affects the work of all vital systems. For quick replacement of the daily requirement of vitamins, micro - and macronutrients in the medical schemes must include their balanced complexes. Magnesium forms muscle and bone, and iodine regulates metabolism. Manganese, molybdenum, chromium, potassium, chloride, selenium, zinc stimulate the strengthening of the tendon-ligament apparatus, and the copper relieves inflammation. These minerals are present in all these complexes. Proper supplementation is to use 1 tablet a day — this amount is sufficient to improve blood supply of brain nutrients. A week later, fade the signs of anemia that occurs in 3 stages of development of cervical chondrosis. People no longer feel drowsy, does not suffer from lack of coordination of movements. Disappears the double vision of objects in front of eyes.
Medicated plasters
Time-tested remedy of osteochondrosis exacerbation — Pepper patch. Its composition is represented by phyto-extracts of red pepper, belladonna. The active ingredients of the patch gradually penetrate the area of the damaged disk, have analgesic action of 3-5 hours. If a sore neck, then the outer product is used whole or cut into small pieces. Capsicum plaster is convenient to use for treatment at home, at work or in trips. But he also had contraindication: individual intolerance of one component. And women with sensitive skin it can cause chemical burn. The patches exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, chondroprotective activity. They are designed to treat all pathologies of the cervical spine. Their use helps to reduce the pharmacological burden on the human body by reducing doses of systemic drugs.
How to treat cervical chondrosis?
Stop the destruction of intervertebral disks is obtained only in an integrated approach to therapy. Practiced wearing orthoses (collars), fixing the vertebrae in anatomical position. Be sure to use applicators to improve blood supply to damaged tissues of nutrients and bioactive substances. Shows the daily physiotherapy, yoga, swimming, walks in the fresh air. Most medications should be used for relief of symptoms in the period of exacerbations. They have many side effects, including tissue damage of the liver. For continuous use suitable chondroprotectors, tools to improve blood circulation, balanced vitamin-mineral complexes.