Osteochondrosis is a rather unpleasant disease of the spine, belonging to the degenerative-dystrophic type. This leads to abnormal compaction of the intervertebral discs and their further going beyond normal. As a result, the patient begins to experience severe pain.
As the disease progresses, the nature and frequency of the pain will only increase. In this regard, the patient is prescribed drug injections. They quickly lead to the desired result, as their entry into the circulatory system takes literally minutes. In addition, it is possible to use the drug topically. For example, inject it directly into the affected joint.
But this method of treatment has some drawbacks. For example, there is a possibility of infection or damage to the tissues of the joint at the injection site. Therefore, such treatment is prescribed only when it is really necessary. Below we will take a closer look at cervical osteochondrosis, its symptoms and treatment with injections.
Typical and atypical symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The main difference between the cervical and lumbar is that the vertebrae are located closer to each other. For this reason, the appearance of pathology in at least one of them can lead to disruption of the normal functioning of the entire spine. To rule out the possibility of other diseases with similar symptoms, to prescribe appropriate treatment and injections for osteochondrosis, it is important to accurately diagnose.
The main problem is that the initial forms of cervical osteochondrosis practically do not appear. And already in a neglected state, various unpleasant, painful sensations begin, resulting from the process of changing the very structure of cartilage and pinching the artery.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:
- It all starts with the appearance of pain in the cervical region. This pain begins to cover the muscles of the back of the head, is accompanied by an unpleasant, frightening crunch and becomes stronger when turning the head. Severe headaches are possible, radiating to the neck, chest to the left and passing to the lower back;
- There may be a feeling of nausea. This is due to a violation of normal cerebral circulation. There may be signs of vascular disease, a feeling of warmth, heavy sweating, hearing loss and numbness of the tongue.
- Difficulty breathing is possible. They are associated with excessive irritation of the diaphragm due to damage to the vertebrae of the neck. There may be severe shortness of breath and even a feeling of suffocation. This can lead to memory impairment and permanent brain damage;
- In addition, this condition is characterized by visual impairment. Occurs due to curvature of the arteries. This leads to blurred vision, blinking dots in front of the eyes, difficulty focusing and atherosclerosis;
- Dizziness of the arteries and disruption of normal blood flow to the brain can cause dizziness, which can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness and unstable pressure.
The need for treatment with injections may arise depending on the stage of the disease and the extent to which it has managed to deform the vertebrae. In any case, the earlier you start treatment, the more likely you are to get rid of osteochondrosis forever. Neglecting the disease can lead to dangerous consequences for disability.
Indications for injections for cervical osteochondrosis
Traditionally, when osteochondrosis occurs, such methods of treatment are prescribed as:
- Massage;
- Special gymnastics;
- Manual therapy;
- Yoga;
- Methods of oriental medicine;
- Something else.
All of the above is aimed at restoring the spine and counteracting the effects of osteochondrosis. But such procedures may simply not be feasible. This is due to the severe pain that the patient experiences. This is why injections are needed for cervical osteochondrosis.
In cervical osteochondrosis, several types of pain are possible depending on their origin:
- reflex;
- spastic;
- neuropathic;
- Compression.
The greatest attention should be paid to the latter, as this is the most common and dangerous variety. In inflammatory processes, pain is easier to treat. So it is possible to get rid of it even with just one drug.
Depending on the type of syndrome, a course of treatment is prescribed:
- Accelerated effect. By skipping the process of absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, the drug reaches the target organs almost immediately;
- special. Some drugs can simply cause destruction in the gastrointestinal tract, as a result of which their effectiveness will be worse, especially compared to drugs that enter the bloodstream directly;
- Selective. Some injections for cervical osteochondrosis are given directly at the site of the lesion. This is necessary to improve their productivity.
The most effective injections for osteochondrosis are prescribed by a doctor. The greatest effect can be achieved when using injections.
What injections are prescribed for cervical osteochondrosis
All osteochondrosis injections are strictly prescribed by a doctor after the patient is hospitalized during an exacerbation of the disease. The patient undergoes an intensive course in which all drugs are administered parenterally.
The main indication for prescribing treatment for osteochondrosis with injections is severe pain that ointments or tablets cannot cope with.
Injections for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine may be prescribed between exacerbations. In general, these are chondroprotectors and vitamin complexes to improve the condition of the spine. This helps to minimize the number of exacerbations. Which injections are prescribed for osteochondrosis will be discussed below.
Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics
These medicines must be combined with other medicines. They are used to relieve muscle spasm and relieve pinched nerve endings. Properly prescribed, they give a good result.
If we talk about some drugs in this group, then the dose will be 25 mg for 10 days.
Painkillers
Such drugs are usually prescribed in cases where anti-inflammatory drugs are powerless. Mostly analgesics. The most effective painkillers for osteochondrosis:
- Analgesic and antipyretic from the group of pyrazolones. Although it belongs to the NSAIDs, it has almost no anti-inflammatory effect. But he copes with the pain quickly. It should be administered intravenously 2 times a day;
- An analgesic that acts directly on opioid receptors in the head to relieve pain. The effect appears within 30 minutes and lasts for six hours. The drug is addictive, but not severe.
Vitamin complexes
Injections of vitamins A, E and C are often prescribed for osteochondrosis. They are able to reduce inflammation of the affected tissues and nerve endings and have a positive effect on microcirculation.
For the most part, vitamin injections for cervical osteochondrosis are released in the form of oily or aqueous solutions. They are administered only intramuscularly. One course of treatment lasts several weeks.
NSAIDs
Regardless of the degree of osteochondrosis, one of the main pathogenic factors is inflammation. Such drugs are designed to get rid of the symptoms (especially pain). They cannot help to overcome the disease itself.
Chondroprotectors
Contributes to the protection and recovery of intervertebral discs. The composition of the preparations includes the same substances as in the composition of the joint tissue. They quickly deal with pain and inflammation.
They are administered intramuscularly, depending on the doctor's prescription, every day or several times a week. The duration of the course is several weeks.
Methods of administration of drugs for cervical osteochondrosis
During the injection process, it is important to follow the rules of antiseptics and asepsis, as the integrity of the skin is compromised and there is a risk of infection. There are several types of injections that are used for osteochondrosis, namely:
- intravenously;
- epidural;
- Intraosseous;
- Intramuscularly.
The process of intramuscular injection is as follows:
- The skin at the injection site should be treated with iodine or alcohol;
- Withdraw the medicine into the syringe according to the dosage indicated in the instructions;
- Insert the needle about two-thirds into the muscle.
If you can do everything yourself when injecting into a muscle, then you will definitely need an experienced assistant to do neck injections.
Cervical osteochondrosis is much more dangerous than lumbar or thoracic. All because the vessels are constricted and the blood circulation in the brain is disrupted. The distortion of the structure itself and the deformation of the intervertebral discs can lead to compression of the nerve roots, as well as to the destruction of the vessels responsible for the blood circulation of the brain.
As a result, with impaired blood circulation, a person begins to become stupid and does not even notice it. In addition to the above treatment, it is important to get rid of as much as possible of the cause of the pathology, for example:
- Lack of activity in everyday life;
- Too much weight;
- Disorders of metabolic processes;
- unhealthy diet;
- Constant stress;
- Severe hypothermia;
- Injury;
- Frequent sitting without movement.
Properly prescribed treatment with injections in a short time can eliminate pain, relieve inflammation and restore normal blood flow. In severe attacks of the disease, the patient may be prescribed droppers with mixtures of several drugs.