8 most effective chondroprotectors for osteochondrosis

Chondroprotectors have appeared in pharmacology relatively recently, so this type of drug is controversial among medical professionals. Some are in favor, considering this method of treatment the most effective, while others are against, expressing their assumptions that they do not bring any benefit for osteochondrosis.

This article contains information about the mechanism of action of chondroprotectors on the body, their benefits and contraindications, and also provides a list of the 8 most effective drugs.

Description of the pathology

Osteochondrosis is one of the most common back diseases. The cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs wears out and cracks, as a result of which the nucleus pulposus leaks out, forming protrusions. And if the disease is neglected, intervertebral hernias may even appear.

The causes of the development of the disease are factors such as:

sedentary work;
bad habits;
lack of exercise;
lack of vitamins;
heredity.

Previously, people after the age of forty were susceptible to osteochondrosis, but with the development of computer technology and gadgets, the mobility of young people has decreased significantly, so young organisms are now also susceptible to osteochondrosis.

The effectiveness of chondroprotectors for osteochondrosis

The course of treatment with a chondroprotector is determined by the doctor, since it will directly depend on the stage of the disease. If, for example, this is the initial stage, then most likely the doctor will limit himself to a course of vitamins and prescribing physical therapy and manual therapy. But if the stage of the disease has passed the initial level, then the treatment should already be comprehensive, and chondroprotectors will be an integral part of it.

The patient intending to take chondroprotectors is informed by the doctor regarding the duration of the course of use. It's long-term. The minimum use for minor damage to cartilaginous structures is three months. But on average, the course usually lasts six months.

In advanced stages of the disease, these drugs are no longer used. Their effectiveness depends on the damage to the cartilage. If the cartilage tissue is already completely destroyed, then taking these medications will no longer make sense.

Mechanism of action

The “health” of the cartilage tissues of the spine depends on many factors. The main one is the replenishment of cartilage with the beneficial enzymes that make up them:

chondroitin;
glucosamine

The content of chondroitin in intervertebral discs affects the performance of hyaluronic acid, which is responsible for elasticity. The less chondroitin there is in the vertebrae, the less moisture there is, which means the less space between the vertebrae, which must be maintained for the spine to be mobile.

Glucosamine is also important. It is responsible for lubricating the joints; it is a thick liquid, the loss of which causes wear and tear of the joints.

Chondroprotectors replenish reserves of chondroitin and glucosamine. They will not grow you new cartilage, but will help restore damaged ones, slowing down the progression of osteochondrosis and preventing further destruction of the discs.

Indications for use

After diagnosis, the doctor draws up a treatment plan, which depends on the severity of the disease and usually consists of taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and chondroprotectors.

Chondroprotectors are indicated:

people who have suffered spinal injuries;
for osteochondrosis of the lumbar, thoracic and cervical regions;
with calcium deficiency;
patients with spondylosis;
after operations;
during inflammation processes in the spinal column.

A plan for taking chondroprotectors is developed by a specialist in this profile; their independent use is prohibited and dangerous.

The same applies to the form of taking medications. Sometimes the doctor uses a combined form, prescribing the patient oral intake and ointment of the same type of chondroprotectors, hoping that the tablets will act from the inside, and the ointment will help from the outside. It is impossible to calculate this on your own, so we constantly focus on the instructions of doctors.

Cervical osteochondrosis

The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is made on the basis of simple studies - an x-ray. For the disease to recede, an integrated approach to the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is needed.

At Doctor Ost MC they know how to get rid of the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis and have a systemic rejuvenating effect on the entire musculoskeletal system!

WHY DOES CERVICAL OSTEOCHONDROSIS APPEAR?

The pain has several localizations: neck, head, shoulders. Weak neck muscles provoke the development of osteochondrosis. Due to incorrect posture, inactivity and unnatural postures, some neck muscles are constantly under tension, while others spend too much time at rest. The spine adapts to irrational load at the cost of its health. With cervical osteochondrosis, the following changes are recorded:

disruption of blood and lymph flow;
lack of nutrition of the connective tissue of the intervertebral discs;
instability of the position of the vertebral bodies relative to each other.

Gradually, the structures of the vertebrae and discs are destroyed. This process is irreversible, so you need to take care of your health on time and undergo treatment for the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis immediately, without delaying it for later. Reasons also include:

neck injuries;
excess weight;
connective tissue dysplasia;
poor nutrition, insufficient water intake.

OSTEOCHONDROSIS OF THE CERVICAL SPINE: SYMPTOMS

Main signs (vertebral):

pain. It can be a constant tugging sensation or appear intermittently after a static position of the neck or sleeping in an uncomfortable position. There are sharp pains that briefly immobilize the patient (lumbago);
torticollis or difficulty moving. Turning or tilting the head can sometimes be so painful that a person finds a comfortable position in which the pain is minimal and tries to stay in it;
muscle tension, feeling of stiffness, heaviness;
crunching of the vertebrae when turning the head. Extravertebral symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis (with involvement of nerves and surrounding tissues):
muscle inflammation;
headaches, migraines, dizziness, sometimes with nausea and vomiting;
pain in the back of the head, increased intracranial pressure, feeling of a heavy head; Such symptoms sometimes occur so clearly that the term “cephalic osteochondrosis” has taken root among patients. Obviously, headache is only a secondary manifestation of pathological changes in the skeletal system and it is correct to speak of cervical, and not cephalic, osteochondrosis.
disruption of the senses: deterioration of hearing and vision, speech, ringing in the ears due to lack of brain nutrition;
pain in the collarbones, arms down to the palms;
tingling and goosebumps in the neck and arms, sometimes numbness in the fingers;
limitation of the amplitude of arm movement (possibly on one side).

DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES OF CERVICAL OSTEOCHONDROSIS: TREATMENT IS MANDATORY!

If degenerative changes are not stopped, the following may be added to osteochondrosis:

radicular pain due to pinched nerves coming from the spine;
protrusions and hernias that compress the spinal cord and lead to complete paralysis;
cervicocranialgia (cervical migraine, dystonic stage of vertebral artery syndrome);
formation of osteophytes on the vertebrae.

METHODS OF TREATMENT OF CERVICAL OSTEOCHONDROSIS OF THE SPINE

This disease cannot be cured with medications. You can only relieve pain with analgesics. But they always have side effects, so they are recommended to be used only in extreme cases. Symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine vary from patient to patient and require an individual approach.

Ask a Question

At Doctor Ost MC, before prescribing procedures, a full examination is carried out. The patient is monitored by a whole team of specialists. Doctors have a rich arsenal of advanced technologies at their disposal, and they have the opportunity to choose the most effective and efficient one. Effective in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis and its manifestations:

traction using the DRX robot – it restores the correct position of the vertebrae without the risk of injury;
shock wave therapy – improves blood and lymph flow to the affected area, restores metabolic processes, relaxes muscles;
interstitial electrical stimulation – fights complications of osteochondrosis, relieves pain caused by inflammation of a pinched nerve;
HILT is laser therapy that instantly relieves pain.

how much does it cost? Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis at Doctor Ost is carried out by a therapist, neurologist, vertebrologist, and rheumatologist.
Find the cost of a specialist consultation in the “Consultative Appointment” section of our price list. Follow the promotions, don't miss out on the best price! The next stage of treating the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis is restoring blood supply and securing the correct position of the vertebrae. Rehabilitation can take place in several sessions and include physical therapy, manual therapy and the use of modern devices. The more accurately the patient follows the recommendations of specialists, the higher the effectiveness of the methods. The final stage is the responsibility of the patient himself:

lifestyle and nutrition correction;
regular physical therapy exercises;
active life position and optimism.

“Unbearable pain, dizziness, lack of restful sleep... all this haunted me for a long time. I turned for help to the Doctor Ost MC, where they surrounded me with attention, care, and finally relieved me of this terrible pain!” Read full review

Contraindications

Despite the fact that drugs in this group are very well absorbed, they still have contraindications for use. Cannot be used if:

You are a pregnant or breastfeeding woman.
You have an individual intolerance to these drugs.
You suffer from problems in the gastrointestinal tract.

Taking medications is strictly prohibited for pregnant women.
These contraindications should not be neglected, as the result can be disastrous. It is better to spend time visiting a clinic than to spend a long time being treated in a hospital.

In what cases are chondroprotectors for the spine necessary?

Chondroprotective medications help strengthen cartilage and bone tissue, which significantly increases the effectiveness of general therapy for the treatment of osteochondrosis, reduces the risk of the spread of inflammatory processes to nearby tissues, muscles, and blood vessels. When using drugs of this kind, the occurrence of possible side effects is reduced.

General indications for the use of chondroprotectors

a diseased spine, in which the cartilage tissue is damaged, is weakened and susceptible to a decrease in the level of chondrotin in the intervertebral space. This substance is responsible for elasticity, mobility, rapid restoration of cells in case of injury, and allows you to retain the required amount of fluid in the tissues. With osteochondrosis, the percentage of the substance in the cells decreases, and to restore it in medicine, medications are used that artificially increase the content of chondrotin. The composition of medications can include both the substance itself and synthetic similar elements.

The prescription of drugs of this class takes into account the individual characteristics of the development of osteochondrosis in the body, based on the tolerability of the components by a particular patient, as well as susceptibility to side effects. Most often, chondroprotective drugs of the nootropic type (for example, Nootropil) are used together with antioxidants that relieve inflammation in tissues (for example, Tocopherol).

Indications for the use of various types of chondroprotectors

Since drugs containing chondrotin often cause side effects, their use is carried out only if there are certain symptoms that justify the use of highly active substances. It is recommended to use medications if symptoms are present:

Degenerative changes in cartilage tissue, which often form with arthrosis;
Pathologies of intervertebral discs and space;
Osteoporotic lesions of the spine, including those associated with age-related changes in the body.

The use of chondroprotectors can be justified only in the absence of a predisposition to the development of complications caused by side effects and the absence of individual intolerance to the components of the drugs. It is not recommended to treat pregnant or lactating women with chondrotin-containing drugs, people with peptic ulcers, problems with the digestive system, or allergic intolerance to the components. If there are contraindications, doctors recommend treatment using other methods. For example, using neuroprotectors as drug therapy.

Advantages and disadvantages of application

Chondroprotectors can reduce the rate of development of osteochondrosis, improve the condition of cartilage tissue, reduce back pain and other unpleasant consequences of spinal diseases. The undeniable advantages of this category of drugs include:

Prevention of tissue destruction of intervertebral discs and cartilage during the full course of treatment;
Low percentage of intolerance and occurrence of various side effects;
Strengthening bones, joints, a positive effect on the human musculoskeletal system as a whole.

However, one should also remember about the limitations of using the drug, which are associated with the long duration of the course, the relatively high cost of drugs, and the need to combine therapy with taking neuroprotectors in the treatment of diseases of the cervical spine.

Chondroprotectors can be classified depending on the active substance in the composition.
The most commonly isolated products contain extracts from bone and cartilage tissue of animal origin, chondroitin sulfate, mucopolysaccharides, glucosamine, as well as complexes with anti-inflammatory effects. Author: K.M.N., Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences M.A. Bobyr

Release form

Pharmacists have tried to produce this type of drug in various forms that are convenient for use in different conditions by different people.

Chondroprotectors are available in the form of tablets, injections and ointments, which are used for cervical osteochondrosis and other localized pathologies.

Injections

Injections of chondroprotectors are considered the most effective form of application, because the medicine is delivered precisely to the target. A medical employee administers the drug.

The only disadvantage of this form is that the injection procedure itself is quite expensive.

Tablets and capsules

When tablets enter the stomach, they are absorbed into the blood through it or the intestines, therefore slowing down the process of action; also, the delivery of the medicine can be hampered by spasms of blood vessels that were pinched by damaged vertebrae.
Therefore, there is a lot of controversy about the effectiveness of this form.

Gels and ointments

Ointments are considered the least effective form of release, since the active components are practically not absorbed into the blood. For example, chondroprotectors for cervical osteochondrosis in the form of an ointment can be applied by rubbing into a sore spot, but this will only relieve pain, so this type of chondroprotectors should be used in a group with other drugs.

Advantages of treatment at the Yusupov Hospital

The Yusupov Hospital is a modern medical institution that provides comprehensive treatment for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Chondroprotectors for osteochondrosis are used in combination with physiotherapeutic procedures and exercise therapy.

The advantages of visiting the neurology clinic of the Yusupov Hospital for osteochondrosis:

comprehensive diagnostics using European high-precision equipment;
optimal set of treatment measures in accordance with age and diagnosis;
attracting highly qualified specialists to draw up treatment programs for spinal osteochondrosis;
the use of effective remedies to eliminate symptoms that have virtually no side effects;
highly effective recovery programs for patients with complications of osteochondrosis;
personal involvement of specialists regarding each patient;
information support and the possibility of pre-registration for examination or appointment.

Making an appointment with your doctor in advance allows you to visit a specialist at a convenient time and avoid waiting in line. Employees care about the comfort of patients, so they make appointments by calling the Yusupov Hospital.

List of the most effective chondroprotectors

Chondroprotectors are usually divided into three generations.

The first generation are drugs based exclusively on natural ingredients, such as animal and fish cartilage, gelatin, etc.
The second is synthetic drugs developed in laboratories.
The third generation is a successful mixture of natural ingredients and highly effective chemical laboratory derivatives.

It is believed that first-generation chondroprotectors are less effective than second or third ones.

Today, the best and most popular chondroprotectors for osteochondrosis are:

"Teraflex".
"Fermatron".
"Dona".
"Arthra".
"Structum".
"Alflutop".
"Chondroxide".
"Formula-S".

Let's talk about some of them in more detail, looking at the composition of the drugs and analyzing their release form.

Don

The active ingredient of this drug is glucosamine sulfate. As mentioned earlier in the article, glucosamine is responsible for joint lubrication. “Dona” relieves inflammation well, restoring metabolic processes in cartilage tissues. It has two forms of release - orally in the form of a powder, which must be diluted with water, and in the form of injections, injections must be administered intramuscularly. There are contraindications common to all types of chondroprotectors that were described above.

Artra

This is a combination drug that contains both chondroitin and glucosamine. This increases its effectiveness. But still, like all other chondroprotectors, this drug is designed for long-term use, so the result will appear after at least 6 months. A detailed scheme of use is in the annotation, but still, precise instructions from a doctor are required for its use.

Alflutop

This is a chondroprotector based exclusively on natural ingredients. It is made from extracts of four species of fish from the Black Sea. Relieves inflammation by improving metabolism in cartilage tissue. The list of contraindications corresponds to the one that exists for all chondroprotectors. Side effects were observed with intramuscular administration in the form of pain and redness at the injection sites.

Indications and contraindications

Chondroprotectors are used in the treatment of various diseases in which degenerative changes occur in the tissues of the joints. One of the main indications for taking these drugs is osteochondrosis caused by age-related changes, excessive stress or spinal injuries. To maintain damaged cartilage tissue, chondroprotectors are prescribed for arthrosis and arthritis.

Chondroprotectors for osteochondrosis of the spine should not be used without the prescription of the attending physician, since these drugs have certain contraindications:

pregnancy;
breastfeeding a child;
allergic reactions;
gastrointestinal diseases;
diabetes;
poor blood clotting.

The development of a treatment program for osteochondrosis by specialists at the Yusupov Hospital is preceded by a complete examination of the patient, during which the localization of the pathological process, the degree of tissue damage, and the presence of contraindications are established.