Osteochondrosis is a rather unpleasant disease of the spine, belonging to the degenerative-dystrophic type. It leads to abnormal compression of the intervertebral discs and their further exceeding beyond the normal limit. 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, as their entry into the circulatory system takes literally minutes. In addition, the medicine can be used locally. For example, inject it directly into the affected node.
But this method of treatment has some disadvantages. 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. 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 cervix and the waist is that the vertebrae are located closer to each other. Therefore, the appearance of pathology in at least one of them can cause a disruption in the normal functioning of the entire spine. To rule out the possibility of other diseases with similar symptoms, to prescribe the appropriate treatment and injections for osteochondrosis, it is important to accurately establish the diagnosis.
The main problem is that the initial forms of cervical osteochondrosis practically do not appear. And already in a neglected state, begin a series of unpleasant, painful sensations, arising from the process of changing the structure of the cartilage and constriction of 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 uncomfortable, frightening crack, and becomes stronger when the head is turned. Severe headaches are possible, radiating to the neck, chest to the left and passing to the lower back;
- There may be a mixed feeling. This is due to violation of normal cerebral circulation. There may be signs of vegetative vascular disease, there is a feeling of heat, profuse 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 cervical vertebrae. There may be severe shortness of breath, even a feeling of suffocation. This can lead to memory impairment and permanent brain damage;
- In addition, this condition is characterized by impaired vision. Occurs due to distortion of arteries. This leads to the appearance of blurred vision, flickering points in front of the eyes, difficulty in focusing the vision and the appearance of atherosclerosis;
- Due to the spasm of the arteries and the interruption of normal blood circulation to the brain, dizziness can occur, which can flood into a sudden loss of consciousness and unstable pressure.
The need for treatment with injections 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 up to disability.
Indications for the appointment of injections for cervical osteochondrosis
Traditionally, when osteochondrosis occurs, such treatment methods are described as:
- Massage;
- Special gymnastics;
- Manual therapy;
- Yoga;
- Methods of oriental medicine;
- Others.
All of the above are aimed at restoring the spine and coping with the consequences of osteochondrosis. But such procedures may simply not be feasible. This is due to the strong pain the patient experiences. This is why injections are needed for cervical osteochondrosis.
With cervical osteochondrosis, several types of pain are possible, depending on their origin:
- reflex;
- Spastic;
- neuropathic;
- Compression.
Greater 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 medicine.
Depending on the type of syndrome, a course of treatment is prescribed:
- Accelerated effect. By bypassing the absorption process in the gastrointestinal tract, the drug reaches the target organs almost immediately;
- special. Some drugs can simply lead to destruction in the gastrointestinal tract, as a result, their effectiveness will be worse, especially compared to drugs that enter the bloodstream directly;
- Selective. Several 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 with a doctor's recommendation. The greatest effect can be achieved exactly when you use injections.
Which injections are prescribed for osteochondrosis of the cervix
All injections from osteochondrosis are strictly prescribed by a doctor after the patient is hospitalized during an exacerbation of the disease. The patient is undergoing an intensive course in which all drugs are administered parenterally.
The main indication for the description of the treatment of osteochondrosis with injections is the strong pain that oils or tablets can not withstand.
Among the exacerbations, injections may also be prescribed for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Basically, these are chondroprotectors and vitamin complexes to improve the condition of the spine. This helps to minimize the number of irritations. Which injections are prescribed for osteochondrosis will be discussed below.
Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics
These drugs must be combined with other drugs. They are used to relieve muscle spasm and relieve tight nerve endings. With the right prescription drugs, they give a good result.
If we talk about some drugs from 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 ineffective. Mostly analgesic. The most effective sedative injections for osteochondrosis:
- Analgesic and antipyretic from the group of pyrazolones. Although it belongs to NSAIDs, it has almost no anti-inflammatory effect. But it quickly copes with the pain. 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. Drugs are addictive, but not strong.
Vitamin complexes
Osteochondrosis is often prescribed injections of vitamins A, E and C. 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 from cervical osteochondrosis are released in the form of oily or aqueous solutions. They are inserted only intramuscularly. A course of treatment lasts several weeks.
NSAIDs
Regardless of the degree of osteochondrosis, one of the main pathogenic factors is inflammation. Such drugs are created to get rid of the symptoms (in particular, the pain). They can not help to overcome the disease itself.
Chondroprotectors
Contribute to the protection and restoration of intervertebral discs. The composition of the preparations includes the same substances as in the composition of articular tissue. They quickly cope 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 drug administration for osteochondrosis of the cervix
During the injection process, it is important to follow the rules of antisepsis and asepsis, as the integrity of the skin is compromised and there is a risk of infection. There are several types of injections given for osteochondrosis, namely:
- intravenous;
- epidural;
- Intraosseous;
- Intramuscular.
The intramuscular injection process is as follows:
- It is necessary to treat the skin at the injection site with iodine or alcohol;
- Pull 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 injecting into a muscle, then you will definitely need an experienced assistant to do neck injections.
The cervical variety of osteochondrosis is much more dangerous than that of the waist or chest. All because the vessels are constricted and the blood circulation to 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 to 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 daily life;
- excess weight;
- Violations of metabolic processes;
- unhealthy diet;
- Constant stress;
- Severe hypothermia;
- Injury;
- Frequent landing without moving.
Properly prescribed treatment with injections in a short time can relieve pain, relieve inflammation and restore normal blood flow. With severe attacks of the disease, the patient may be prescribed drops with a mixture of several drugs.