Treatment of cervical osteonecrosis

Improper nutrition, sedentary lifestyle and nutrient deficiencies lead to the development of various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. One of the most common lesions is cervical osteonecrosis. This is because they have to move too much and put extra stress on the part. The first signs of violation require the consultation of a specialist and the appointment of the correct method of treatment. It includes medication, physical therapy procedures, and therapeutic exercises.

Brief information about the disease

Cervical osteosarcoma develops on a background of severely abraded cartilage and bone tissue. With age, the discs between the vertebrae lose their elasticity and become more susceptible to injury. As a result, the disease is diagnosed in an average of 90% of retirees. Chronic conditions that develop after temporary remission, facilitated, as a rule, by a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, bad habits and peculiarities of occupational activityKarma.

Cervical osteosarcoma develops gradually, so it is conventionally divided into several stages. At the initial stage, the elasticity of the discs is significantly reduced, small cracks appear in them. The discomfort is almost imperceptible and worrisome for a short time, so patients rarely get to the doctor on time, due to the symptoms of fatigue.

Gradually, as the disease progresses, sharp pains develop, especially with prolonged exposure to one position, dizziness, numbness in the shoulder or face, panic attacks, and problems with coordination. The patient becomes more difficult to hold the head in one position, vision and hearing problems appear. Ignoring such symptoms is dangerous, as it often leads to serious complications. Symptoms of the disease are the same in men and women.

Treatment protocol for osteonecrosis disease

Treatment of cervical osteonecrosis begins with diagnosis. It allows to determine not only the pathological process, but also the degree of its distribution, the severity of the course, the presence of concomitant diseases. The tactics chosen to deal with the problem include the following points:

• Prescribe medications (NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, corticosteroids, B vitamins). All these drugs are aimed at eliminating puffiness, improving blood circulation, restoring damaged disc tissues, protecting nerve endings.
• Physical therapy. The procedure is prescribed only after the cessation of the acute phase. The main methods are electrophoresis and magnetic therapy. They will help restore the flexibility of the neck and reinforce the effect.
• Manual therapy. It is used to relieve painful manifestations in the acute phase and restore the correct position of the spine. The procedure is performed by a specialist in the surgical field who is qualified to engage in such operations. This should be checked before starting the session.
• Exercise therapy. Special therapeutic exercises, or exercises designed specifically for the patient, help to cope with the pathological process. In addition, the complexes developed by doctors have proven themselves well in this area.

With the permission of the doctor, folk remedies can be included in the program of eliminating unpleasant symptoms. But self-substituting selected medications, or increasing dosages, can negatively affect treatment in general, so extreme caution is warranted.

Treatment activities

Treatment of cervical spondylosis is a long-term process that involves a variety of methods aimed at eliminating uncomfortable symptoms and restoring damaged cartilage tissue. The main goals of the therapy course are:

• Reduces unpleasant symptoms (headache, numbness, inflammation, paralysis) during exacerbations of the pathological process.
• Normalizes blood circulation in the affected area.
• Restores nutrition of cells and tissues to preserve their structure and function.
• Eliminate the cause of the development of the degenerative process.
• Prevention of possible complications.

Many patients are interested in the problem of jaw bone tumor, can it be cured?Promptly received treatment at the stage of exacerbation allows not only to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, but also to slow down the degenerative process, to achieve stable remission. The damage in stage 2-3 is already irreversible and the patient will have to live with the diagnosis for life. Under the periodic examination of the attending physician to determine the dynamics.

Drug treatment

It is better to start the treatment of cervicitis by taking pain relievers that help deal with the uncomfortable symptoms. This is effective up to stage 2 of the pathological process, when the annulus has not yet been destroyed. The main aim is to prevent cartilage damage and stabilize remission. A variety of drug classes are used for this.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Treatment of scleroderma is not complete without the use of NSAIDs, as this class of drugs allows you to prevent unpleasant symptoms during an exacerbation of the disease. NSAIDs help to eliminate swelling and inflammation, which enhances the effect of pain relievers.

They are used as tablets, ointments, or injections. The injectable form is one of the most effective, but it is used most often in the hospital, when the patient is in a serious condition.

The course of drug therapy of this group is no more than 14 days. After that, disturbances of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract may appear. If the patient has problems with the gastrointestinal tract, drugs are prescribed simultaneously with prescribed sums to protect the mucous membrane of the organ.

Muscle relaxants

Any treatment regimen for fibroids always involves taking medication to get rid of the muscle spasms. It is a natural response to inflammation. They are prescribed at the beginning of treatment in the form of injections, which should then be replaced by pills.

The course of treatment with muscle relaxants should not last longer than 1-2 weeks, as they can be easily addictive. After reducing the manifestation of pain and eliminating the spasm, they are canceled.

Endocrine drugs

They are prescribed to patients to get rid of pain if the pathological process has developed to 2-3 degrees. Hormonal agents have a strong anti-inflammatory effect and help to quickly eliminate unpleasant symptoms. It is unacceptable to use drugs from this group during pregnancy or there is a high probability of developing an allergic reaction.

Steroids are prescribed with caution and in combination with other medications, because the potential for side effects is high. Their independent appointment is unacceptable.

Chondroprotectors

Cervical osteonecrosis cannot be completely cured, but there are several medications that aim to regenerate damaged tissue. These are called chondroprotectors. They are used in the form of ointments, injections, and pills. The last form is the most convenient, it allows you not to miss an appointment even while on the go.

On average, the course of treatment with chondroprotectors lasts from 3-6 months. Ointments are used mainly for prophylaxis, as they are the least effective. When choosing an injection, just 10-12 injections are enough to start the regeneration process.

Physical therapy

Various physiotherapeutic methods are used to combat the disease only in the period of remission. They are prescribed to strengthen muscles, improve blood circulation, normalize health and relieve pain. The following procedures apply:

• Electrophoresis.
• Magnetic therapy.
• Acupuncture.
• Treatment with leeches.
• Massage.

Osteosarcoma cannot be cured by certain physical therapy procedures. Many techniques have a number of contraindications, for example, period of pregnancy and lactation, exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Physical therapy

Various exercise therapy complexes are useful for restoring the natural position of the spine. At home, you can study under special programs. Physiotherapy is carried out in compliance with a number of rules. All movements are performed rhythmically, without sudden movements, at the same time of day. Complexes typically include the following approaches:

• Head tilted to each side 2 times.
• Lower the arms along the body, raise the shoulders, linger for 10 seconds. Return from the starting position.
• Hang on the crossbar for 10 seconds. Repeat several times a day.
• Lie on a hard surface, hang your head from the edge, raise it gradually, and at the same time stretch the muscles only the cervical spine.

Cervical and thoracic spine osteomas require lifestyle adjustments. Exercise should be a part of life to maintain the health of the injured area and the entire spine.

Surgery

Conservative therapy does not always give the expected result, the doctor appoints surgical intervention. It is performed in the neck or thoracic region, only when there is strong compression of the spinal nerves, with deformation of the vertebrae or acute compression of the spinal cord. Surgery is done from the front of the neck or from the back, depending on many factors. The primary task of the surgeon is to remove instability and compression. For this, the following techniques are used:

• Spine fusion. It involves the connection of the vertebrae to limit their mobility. It is widely used to treat osteonecrosis. Reduces neck flexibility, but permanently solves the problem of soreness. During surgery, a bone graft is used, which is fixed with metal pins, rods, and plates. They increase the rate of fusion and stabilize the cervical spine. The implant is obtained from the donor or the patient himself, usually from the thigh area. For this, an additional incision is made during the surgery.
• Anatomy. During this procedure, the problematic disc is removed and the bone segments are fixed together. Special screws are used for this. Thanks to this, unpleasant symptoms are eliminated and compression of the spinal cord is eliminated.
• Cut right. It implies removal of not only the affected disc, but also the entire bone. The spine is stabilized, as in the previous case, using special screws and fasteners.
• Removal of laminectomy. The arches, spurs, and ligaments are removed, all that puts pressure on the spinal cord. This allows you to create the right space to ensure the proper functioning of the organ. But the process destabilizes the ridge, so the use of constraints is required.

The possible risks and consequences of the operation are discussed with each patient. The main causes are difficulty swallowing at first, voice changes, difficulty breathing, infection or a reaction to the anesthetic.

Advice for patients during an exacerbation

Exacerbation of osteonecrosis lasts an average of 3-5 days, but it all depends on the age of the patient, the extent of the lesion, the observance of the doctor's recommendations. It is strictly forbidden to lubricate the damaged area with ointment or massage, which will only aggravate the situation. To alleviate this situation, the following measures should be taken:

• Get into a comfortable position. During the acute phase, the cervical vertebrae need complete rest. Therefore, when pain appears, you should lie on a flat surface, trying to completely relax. This position will temporarily relieve the pain and ease the general condition.
• Take painkillers and call your doctor for advice. Do not expect that the disease will go away on its own, but get treatment as soon as possible. Medication alone is not enough to slow down the degenerative process; requires an integrated approach, including physical therapy procedures and special exercises.
• Buy orthopedic collar (Shantsa). This device is available at most specialty stores. It prevents movement of the cervical vertebrae and thus minimizes the possibility of degeneration. Depending on the density of the material, the collar can be hard or soft, but in all cases it reliably fixes the neck in one position.

The choice of drugs is made by the doctor, taking into account individual characteristics and the presence of contraindications. Standard pain relievers may not work if the cartilage is severely damaged. In this case, only epidural blocks will help. Therefore, it is better not to take the advice of relatives and neighbors into account.

Patient testimonials

Osteochondrosis is treated over a long period of time, using a variety of methods to relieve discomfort. Therefore, many patients doubt the effectiveness of the chosen regimen. Patient comments will help understand the treatment problem.

• "I've been treating osteonecrosis of my neck for over 6 years now and I've never tried it. At first, drugs were prescribed, but they only eased the pain. Then he went to the gym for treatment. therapy and physical therapy for a long time, but the results do not appear for long. Everywhere there is a cumulative effect, but the disease itself does not go away. As long as there is no movement, the doctor justIt's already difficult to decide on conservative treatment, but it's already difficult to get along with the rhythm. "
• "I didn't go to the doctor for a long time with neck pain, resulting in a flattened disc. Tablets didn't provide obvious pain relief, but while using it, I used massage and compression. They provide the best support. with potatoes and honey. But as the disease progresses, I am thinking of surgery, but this is a last resort. "
• "I was diagnosed with osteonecrosis a few years ago, foolishly because it took a long time to treat with folk methods, I was afraid of drugs, so I didn't use it. Therefore, the disease progressed quickly, and at the same time, affect the excess weight and constant burden on the neck. Now the pain reliever has been of little help, the severe pain is constantly bothering, the skin numbness has appeared. The doctor has not yet suggested a surgery. surgery, but I think it's around the corner if this regimen doesn't work. "

Treatment of osteonecrosis includes an integrated approach, including various modern techniques and drugs, massage, alternative drug formulations. Only this approach can slow degenerative changes in bone and connective tissue, stabilize remission and maintain quality of life, while minimizing the risk of serious complications.