The best drugs for osteochondrosis

Goals of drug treatment Drugs for effective treatment of osteochondrosis: release form What drugs should be taken for osteochondrosis?

Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis includes various therapeutic measures - from massage and diet to therapeutic exercises and physiotherapy. All of them help improve the patient’s condition and prevent the development of complications. But the leading method has been and remains the use of pharmaceutical drugs for osteochondrosis.

Drugs for osteochondrosis are the main way to combat the disease.

Goals of drug treatment

Treatment of osteochondrosis with drugs is so effective in the early stages of the disease that, with a properly selected treatment regimen, it can completely cure osteochondrosis or permanently eliminate its most unpleasant symptoms. In the later stages, drug control of the disease is possible.

Medicines for osteochondrosis are designed to influence the disease not only symptomatically, but also to eliminate its causes systemically. Therefore, therapy is carried out in the following directions:

anesthesia of affected areas;
relieving inflammation and stopping the acute period of the disease;
restoration of microcirculation in affected tissues;
improving metabolic processes and protecting cartilage from further destruction (for example, by free radicals);
regeneration of cartilage tissue in intervertebral discs;
restoration of mobility in the vertebral joints.

In cases where the disease is accompanied by depression or emotional stress, therapy is also aimed at restoring a normal psychological state.

During the period of remission, patients can do without medications or take them in courses in prophylactic dosages.

Symptoms

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can vary widely among individuals.

When osteochondrosis becomes symptomatic, pain may develop gradually or appear suddenly. Symptoms can range from some discomfort in the neck to debilitating severe pain radiating into the arm, numbness and/or muscle weakness.

Drugs for effective treatment of osteochondrosis: release form

To treat osteochondrosis, agents for external and internal use are used. The choice of drug release form depends on the patient’s habits and lifestyle, concomitant diagnoses and stage of the disease.

Tablets and capsules

Tablets and capsules for osteochondrosis are the most popular form of release. They have high bioavailability and systemic effects on the body.

The tablets should be taken directly with meals, usually 2 times a day.

The main disadvantage of tablets (especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) is that they act directly on the mucous membrane of the digestive system. Such drugs are not recommended for chronic use due to the risk of inflammation and stomach ulcers. They must be taken under the supervision of a doctor.

Treatment with drugs for osteochondrosis can only be started after consultation with a doctor.

Powders

Some medications for osteochondrosis are available in sachet form (a portion of powder in a paper bag for a single dose). Crystalline preparations are very well absorbed and easy to use - you need to take them only once a day, diluting them in about ½ glass of warm water. The effect of taking them comes a little faster. Powder preparations are easier to dose and contain fewer additional components. But not all patients like the need to prepare the mixture and its taste.

Ointments, gels, creams and solutions for compresses

Products for external use are excellent for local anesthesia, relieving inflammation and swelling. They are considered much safer for the body than tablets, since they do not come into contact with mucous membranes and are absorbed into the blood in small quantities. Local preparations do not have a cumulative effect, are easy to use and, as a rule, do not require a prescription. They can be used continuously, not in courses. Among the external forms of release, it is worth highlighting the patches - they are simply attached to the affected area of the spine, they can be worn under clothes all day.

Ointments, gels and creams are the best drugs for osteochondrosis for patients who have contraindications to taking tablets (with steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components) from the heart and endocrine system.

The main disadvantages of this form of release are:

low bioavailability (about 5% of the active substance overcomes the natural barriers of the skin);
the possibility of local allergic reactions due to too frequent use;
help to completely get rid of symptoms only in the early stages of the disease.

Please note that ointments with NSAIDs should be used with caution, especially if the patient has ulcerative-erosive lesions of the stomach and intestines. Their active ingredients, even in small quantities, block the enzyme that protects the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. They also reduce the natural production of enzymes responsible for relieving inflammation.

External products should be rubbed in with vigorous circular movements up to 6 times a day. And compresses (for example, with dimexide) - keep 1-2 times a day for about 10 minutes.

Solutions for injections

Medicines for intravenous and intramuscular administration have maximum bioavailability and reduced impact on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, since the active substances enter directly into the blood.

Injectable medications for osteochondrosis can quickly stop the exacerbation of the disease, relieve pain, swelling, and restore the sensitivity of nerve endings. Injections are an excellent alternative to oral medications for those with lactose intolerance. After all, most NSAIDs in tablets (for example, meloxicam) are lactose-containing drugs.

For particularly severe back pain, the drug is injected as a blockade - directly into the nerve. The effect of such an injection lasts up to 3-4 weeks, but the procedure must be carried out by a qualified medical professional due to the proximity of the blockade site to the spine.

The main disadvantage of injection solutions is the need to administer them with an injection or dropper (usually in a hospital). Like other groups of medications, solutions with NSAIDs can only be used as prescribed by a doctor to avoid side effects.

Drugs for the effective treatment of osteochondrosis must be used strictly according to the regimen prescribed by the doctor.

Main reasons

The pathological process develops gradually, under the influence of a number of negative factors. The human body in modern conditions is constantly experiencing stress associated with a sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, injuries, and production processes. The first symptoms of osteochondrosis appear in people over 40 years of age, but every year the pathology becomes more and more “younger” and is diagnosed at 30-35 years of age. The main reasons for the development of the degenerative-dystrophic process are:

Constant loads on the spine.
Sedentary lifestyle.
Vibration associated with professional activities.
Back injuries of any location.
Scoliosis or curvature of the spine.
Overweight (any stage of obesity).
Flat feet or congenital anomalies of the spine.
Genetic predisposition.
Disturbance of metabolic processes.
Exposure of the body to toxins or harmful substances.
Smoking, alcohol addiction.

Osteochondrosis develops gradually, most often under the influence of several factors at once. Intervertebral discs gradually lose fluid, become more fragile, thinner, and as a result lose their shock-absorbing properties. With a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae, the appearance of cracks inside the disc and protrusion, the first manifestations of the disease appear. Signs directly depend on the location and stage of development.

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What medications should I take for osteochondrosis?

Medicines for osteochondrosis differ not only in the form of release. They are also divided into the following pharmacological groups.

Anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of osteochondrosis

The work of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for osteochondrosis is based on suppressing the production of prostaglandins - hormone-like substances that cause inflammation and pain in the affected areas. Non-steroidal drugs for osteochondrosis can quickly eliminate pain and hot skin, restore local metabolism, relieve swelling, discomfort and deterioration of sensitivity, and relieve pressure on the nerve roots of the spine.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of osteochondrosis are produced in various dosage forms - capsules and tablets, gels and creams, solutions for intramuscular, intravenous or subcutaneous administration. Treatment of NSAID drugs for osteochondrosis usually involves a combination of different forms. For example, tablets are used as the main therapy, gels and ointments “quench” residual inflammation, and injections are needed for pain relief. Patches (for example, Voltaren, Versatis) help relieve inflammation at all stages of treatment.

The list of NSAID drugs for osteochondrosis includes:

artradol;
ibuprofen (nurofen, dolit, ibuprom);
ketoprofen (ketonal, fastum, bystrumgel, flexen);
diclofenac (Voltaren, Diclac, Diclobene, Dicloran Plus, Ortofen);
ketorolac;
xefocam;
indomethacin (indovazin, indobene, indocid);
nimesulide (nimesil, nise, nimulid, nimika);
naproxen;
piroxicam;
Celebrex (celecoxib);
febrofide;
meloxicam (movalis, movasin).

Steroid (hormonal) anti-inflammatory drugs for osteochondrosis are rarely used - mainly in the most advanced cases. These include prednisolone, cortisone, dexamethasone and others.

Chondroprotectors

With osteochondrosis, the spring function of the intervertebral discs deteriorates, which directly depends on the volume of cartilage tissue and its elasticity. To maintain sufficient cartilage thickness, the body must regenerate cartilage cells (chondrocytes) at a rate that roughly matches their destruction. But with dehydration, unbalanced nutrition, stress, metabolic or anatomical disorders, the rate of decay of chondrocytes increases, and new cells are either inhibited in growth or have an insufficient margin of safety. To protect cartilage and restore its normal growth rate, it is worth taking special products based on glucosamine and chondroitin - chondroprotectors. Chondroprotective drugs for the effective treatment of osteochondrosis can stabilize the condition of cartilage, prevent its further destruction and, subject to all medical recommendations, even help restore lost chondrocytes.

Chondroprotective drugs for osteochondrosis include:

artracs;
chondrolone;
rumalon;
Don;
chondroxide;
osterepar;
teraflex;
alflutop;
collagen ultra.

Some of them (for example, Dona) contain only glucosamine, others (Structum, Chondroxide) - only chondroitin. Modern drugs combine active ingredients and additionally include vitamins (artracam).

For a sustainable effect, chondroprotectors (in the form of tablets, injections or external agents) must be taken for life, in courses of 3-6 months.

Warming drugs

To eliminate discomfort in osteochondrosis, the so-called. warming medications. They:

dilate blood vessels in the skin, which inhibits the transmission of pain impulses to the brain;
improve blood microcirculation in connective tissue;
distract the patient from unpleasant sensations.

When irritating drugs are applied, the peak effect is observed after half an hour, and the analgesic effect lasts for 2-4 hours. A local increase in skin temperature is normal.

The list of drugs for the treatment of osteochondrosis includes ointments, creams, gels and tinctures based on:

camphor (camphor ointment);
turpentine;
benzyl nicotinate;
nonivamide;
capsaicin (espol ointment, capsicum tincture);
bee and snake venom.

Most of these drugs have a combined composition - for example, bee venom and NSAIDs or snake venom, salicylic acid and turpentine. Therefore, before use, you must make sure that you are not allergic to each of the components.

Local and general analgesics

Painkillers for osteochondrosis are usually used in the form of tablets and injections. For moderate pain, the usual medicines in the medicine cabinet can help - analgin or paracetamol. Nefopam and Ambene are also effective (has an anti-inflammatory effect, which reduces pain).

In the later stages of osteochondrosis, opioids are prescribed - potent drugs with a number of contraindications. These include tramal (tramadol).

For complex pain relief (for example, blockade), the so-called. “cocktails” that simultaneously have an analgesic, decongestant, anti-inflammatory, local anesthetic and allergen-reducing effect. The composition may include lidocaine or novocaine, bupivacaine, corticosteroids, vitamin B12 and other components.

Important! Analgesics only relieve pain without affecting its cause. Therefore, without proper treatment, osteochondrosis continues to progress, requiring a transition to increasingly serious painkillers.

Vasodilators

Vasodilators for osteochondrosis, or vasodilators, help restore normal blood supply to the tissues around the affected intervertebral joints.

Pain and muscle tension cause the blood vessels to narrow. This impairs tissue nutrition, causes oxygen starvation of the brain and accelerates the progression of the disease. Therefore, in case of cervical osteochondrosis, drugs to normalize blood circulation are especially important. During rehabilitation therapy the following are used:

pentoxifylline, or trental (vasodilator);
xanthinol nicotinate (improves blood flow, reduces swelling of nerve roots);
aminophylline (eliminates circulatory failure);
Mexidol (pressure and metabolic processes stabilizer);
vasonite-retard, octolipene (microcirculation stimulants);
actovegin (tissue regeneration stimulator);
Cavinton (promotes saturation of tissues with oxygen, dilates blood vessels);
berlithion (antioxidant).

Vascular medications for osteochondrosis improve peripheral blood circulation and cellular metabolism and relieve pain.

Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants

To eliminate spasm and tension, antispasmodics and muscle relaxants are used. They normalize blood circulation, relieve pain, and restore mobility. Patients are prescribed:

sirdalud (tizanadine);
mydocalm (tolperizole);
baclofen;
cyclobenzaprine;
novocaine, lidocaine, trimecaine.

To enhance the effect of drugs to relax muscles in osteochondrosis, they can be prescribed together with clonazepam or diazepam (prescription drugs). These drugs can be addictive, so they are used with caution.

Sedatives

Symptoms of osteochondrosis and treatment with drugs often provoke chronic stress, emotional stress, depression and other disorders of the psycho-emotional spectrum in patients

For general calming and combating insomnia, you can use herbal preparations - for example, tincture of valerian, motherwort, peony.

For more serious disorders, antidepressants are recommended - gidazepam, Cymbalta, Eglonil, Donormil.

Vitamin and mineral complexes

Since osteochondrosis is considered a disease of the whole body, complex vitamin and mineral therapy (complivit, duovit, doppelhertz, multi-tabs) is of great importance. Vitamins A, groups B, C, D, E, calcium and phosphorus preparations help to significantly improve the condition.

Vitamin A

(retinol acetate) is a natural antioxidant that stimulates collagen production and reduces the destruction of chondrocytes, promotes the renewal of joint tissue.

B vitamins

(cyanocobalamin, milgamma, neuromultivit, neurobion, neurorubin, neuroplex, celtican complex, pyridoxine, thiamine) reduce pain, inflammation and numbness of the hands, improve the sensitivity of nerve fibers.

Vitamin D

(calciferol, aquadetrim, vigantol) is responsible for the absorption of calcium and helps restore bone tissue lost due to osteochondrosis.

Vitamin E

(tocopherol) is necessary for normalizing blood circulation, protecting against free radicals and cartilage regeneration.

Don't self-medicate! Good luck to you in the treatment of osteochondrosis!

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Main symptoms

Osteochondrosis is dangerous due to mild manifestations of pathology and slow progression, practically unnoticeable to the patient at stages 1 and 2. Noticing the first signs is important for the timely start of complex therapy. This will eliminate severe complications and irreversible processes. Symptoms of the disease are classified into several types:

Vertebral artery syndrome (asthenic). Appears when blood vessels in the spine are compressed and there is a lack of nutrients in all organs. It manifests itself as impaired functioning of the organs of vision and hearing, constant migraines or prolonged pain in the eyes. Symptoms intensify when turning the head.
Vertebral syndrome. The pathological process manifests itself as severe pain in the neck and between the shoulder blades, it varies in intensity. In addition to them, patients also complain of overstrain of muscle tissue, numbness of the skin, and constant discomfort in the thoracic region. It intensifies when you try to tilt your head or bend over.
Radicular syndrome. It occurs due to the development of degenerative processes and gradual compression of nerve endings. It manifests itself as increased pain with any sudden movements, as well as a feeling of discomfort in the stomach or heart.
Spinal syndrome. Develops as a result of an acute disruption of blood flow to the spinal cord. Prolonged squeezing is manifested by cold fingers, lumbago, muscle wasting, lack of coordination and numbness. The pain syndrome can vary in intensity and can spread to neighboring areas, from the back of the head to the eyes, crown, and temple.

Despite this division of symptoms, they are all characteristic of the disease. The development of a pathological process can be suspected by severe pain in the neck, which intensifies with any physical activity. It is also recommended to pay attention to the following symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis:

Symptoms of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis

Headache or frequent dizziness.
Hearing impairment, noise or ringing in the ears.
Tingling or pins and needles sensation in the shoulder area.
Impaired coordination of movements.
Asthenic disorder.
Problems with visual function (double vision, dark spots before the eyes).
Feeling of tightness or blocks in the area of noise.
Tooth or muscle pain in the facial area of varying degrees of intensity.
Limited motor activity of the upper limbs.
Increasing pain when turning the head.

Signs of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis in women intensify during the menstrual cycle. There may also be symmetrical pain in the chest, decreased sensitivity in the neck, discomfort in the shoulder blades, or unexplained itching in the arms and shoulders.

Even if several characteristic signs of the disease appear at once, you cannot make a diagnosis yourself. To clarify the patient’s condition, it will be necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination to determine the presence of concomitant diseases, for example, arthrosis.

X-ray is one of the informative ways to diagnose osteochondrosis

Hirudotherapy method

Medicine makes it possible to influence osteochondrosis using many methods. Treatment with leeches helps increase joint activity, and the active substance (hirudin) found in their saliva thins the blood, helps restore and regenerate damaged tissues due to better absorption of nutrients, relieves swelling, pain, pinched nerves, and increases the effect of other conservative methods. The procedure is painless and in one session, which lasts 30-60 minutes, 5-7 specimens of pharmaceutical or medicinal leeches are used.

The course of treatment consists of 8-10 procedures with periods of 5 days between them.

Due to the fact that the vast majority of people have spinal osteochondrosis of varying degrees of severity, and the disease is underestimated in its consequences, it makes sense to contact the clinic as early as possible for medical help from our general specialists and carry out appropriate treatment and preliminary diagnosis of the disease .
osteochondrosis

Second phase

The task is to restore the discs of the spinal column and prevent dystrophic changes.

Treatment involves adjusting the diet, physical therapy, manual therapy, massage, and acupuncture. This complex allows you to improve blood circulation in the intervertebral discs and surrounding tissues.

For neurological symptoms, the neurologist can carry out a novocaine blockade or use more serious drugs to relieve muscle spasms. They may return after a while, but continued work on the joints and tendons restores their healthy functionality.

It is worth noting that at the initial stage, treatment is possible without the use of drugs. It is enough to introduce exercise therapy into the complex of therapeutic measures, reduce heavy physical activity, use Kuznetsov and Lyapko applicators, and physiotherapeutic procedures.

Possible complications

Lack of timely treatment can lead to serious complications, including:

bulging intervertebral discs
(formation of hernia/protrusion);
intervertebral disc rupture,
accompanied by pinching of nerves and blood vessels, which can cause death;
radiculopathy
(damage to the nerve roots), the formation of osteophytes (spikes on the vertebral body) with the manifestation of numerous paresis and paralysis.