Osteochondrosis is a rather unpleasant disease of the spine, which belongs to the degenerative-dystrophic type. This leads to abnormal compaction of the intervertebral discs and their further exit from normal limits. As a result, the patient begins to feel 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, because their entry into the circulatory system takes literally a few 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 joint tissue at the injection site. Therefore, such treatment is prescribed only when it is really necessary. In the following, 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 cause a disturbance in the normal functioning of the entire spine. In order to exclude the possibility of other diseases with similar symptoms, prescribe appropriate treatment and injections for osteochondrosis, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis.
The main problem is that the initial forms of cervical osteochondrosis practically do not appear. Even in a neglected state, various unpleasant, painful sensations begin, which arise from the process of changing the structure of the cartilage itself 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 nape of the neck, is accompanied by an unpleasant, frightening squeak and becomes stronger when the head is turned. Severe headaches are possible which radiate to the neck, chest to the left, and pass into the lower back;
- Feelings of nausea may occur. This is due to a violation of normal cerebral circulation. Signs of vegetovascular disease may occur, feeling hot, sweating, hearing loss and numbness of the tongue.
- Shortness of breath is possible. They are associated with excessive irritation of the diaphragm due to damage to the cervical spine. 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. It occurs due to arterial distortion. This leads to blurred vision, flickering of spots in front of the eyes, difficulty in focusing the eyes and the appearance of atherosclerosis;
- Spasm of the arteries and disruption of normal blood flow to the brain can lead to dizziness that can escalate into unexpected loss of consciousness and unstable pressure.
The need for injection treatment may arise depending on the stage of the disease and how much it has managed to deform the vertebrae. In any case, the sooner you start treatment, the more likely you are to get rid of osteochondrosis forever. Ignoring the disease can lead to dangerous consequences leading to disability.
Indications for the appointment of injections for cervical osteochondrosis
Traditionally, when osteochondrosis occurs, such treatment methods are prescribed as:
- Massage;
- Special gymnastics;
- Manual therapy;
- Yoga;
- Methods of oriental medicine;
- Other.
All of the above aims to restore the spine and combat the effects of osteochondrosis. But such procedures may simply not be feasible. This is due to the severe pain the patient experiences. This requires injections for cervical osteochondrosis.
With cervical osteochondrosis, several types of pain are possible, depending on the origin:
- reflex;
- Spastic;
- neuropathic;
- Compression.
The greatest attention should be paid to the latter, because this is the most common and most dangerous variety. In inflammatory processes, pain is easier to treat. Thus, it is possible to solve it with even just one drug.
Depending on the type of syndrome, the course of treatment is prescribed:
- Accelerated effect. By skipping the absorption process in the gastrointestinal tract, the drug reaches the target organs almost immediately;
- strange. Certain drugs can easily lead to destruction in the gastrointestinal tract, which is why their effectiveness will be poorer, especially compared to drugs that enter the bloodstream directly;
- Selectively. Some injections for cervical osteochondrosis are placed directly at the site of the lesion. This is necessary to improve their performance.
The most effective injections for osteochondrosis are prescribed on the recommendation of a doctor. The greatest effect can be achieved by injecting.
What injections are prescribed for cervical osteochondrosis
All injections for osteochondrosis are strictly prescribed by the doctor after the patient is hospitalized during the exacerbation of the disease. The patient is on an intensive course in which all medications are given parenterally.
The main indication for prescribing treatment for osteochondrosis by injection is severe pain that ointments or tablets cannot cope with.
Between exacerbations, injections may be prescribed for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Basically, these are chondroprotectors and vitamin complexes to improve the condition of the spine. This helps reduce the number of exacerbations. What injections are prescribed for osteochondrosis will be discussed below.
Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics
These medications should be combined with other medications. They are used to relieve muscle cramps and relieve pinched nerve endings. With proper medication they give a good result.
If we are talking about some drugs from this group, then the dose will be 25 mg in 10 days.
Painkillers
Such drugs are usually prescribed in cases where anti-inflammatory drugs are powerless. Mostly analgesics. The most effective painkiller injections for osteochondrosis:
- Analgesic and antipyretic from the pyrazolone group. Although it belongs to NSAIDs, it has almost no anti-inflammatory effect. But he copes with the pain quickly. It must be administered intravenously 2 times a day;
- An analgesic that acts directly on opioid receptors in the head to relieve pain. The effect occurs within 30 minutes and lasts for six hours. The drug is addictive, but not strong.
Vitamin complexes
Injections of vitamins A, E and C are often prescribed for osteochondrosis. They are able to reduce the inflammation of the affected tissues and nerve endings, and have a positive effect on the microcirculation.
Most vitamin injections from cervical osteochondrosis are released in the form of oil or aqueous solutions. It is taken only intramuscularly. One treatment lasts several weeks.
NSAIDs
Regardless of the degree of osteochondrosis, one of the main pathogenic factors is inflammation. Such medications are designed to relieve symptoms (especially pain). They cannot help overcome the disease itself.
Chondroprotectors
Contributes to the protection and regeneration of intervertebral discs. The composition of the preparation includes the same substances as in the composition of the joint tissue. They deal quickly 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
When injecting, it is important to follow the rules of antisepsis and asepsis, because the integrity of the skin is violated and there is a risk of infection. There are several types of injections given for osteochondrosis, as follows:
- 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;
- Inject the medicine into the syringe according to the dose indicated in the instructions;
- Insert the needle about two-thirds into the muscle.
If you can do everything yourself when you inject into a muscle, then you will definitely need an experienced assistant to inject into your neck.
Cervical osteochondrosis is much more dangerous than lumbar or thoracic. All because the blood vessels are constricted and the blood circulation in the brain is disturbed. Distortion of the structure itself and deformation of the intervertebral discs can lead to compression of the nerve roots, as well as to the destruction of the vessels responsible for blood circulation in 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 the cause of the pathology as much as possible, for example:
- Lack of activity in everyday life;
- Too much weight;
- Violation 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. With severe attacks of the disease, the patient may be prescribed droppers with mixtures of several drugs.