Many factors in everyday life have an adverse effect on our body. Lack of proper nutrition, rest and exercise regimes, bad habits gradually create conditions in vital processes that are incompatible with the normal functioning of the body.
Cervical osteochondrosis is one of the diseases that develops as a result of metabolic disorders in the osteochondral structure. Timely diagnosis of the disease and prescription of an ointment for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can save you from the development of pathological complications in cartilage tissues.
Description of the pathology
In medicine, osteochondrosis is defined as a dysfunction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs of a degenerative-dystrophic nature, provoking inflammation and changes in the structure of the vertebrae. Advanced forms of osteochondrosis lead to sad irreversible consequences. Like all types of osteochondrosis, the disease in the cervical spine develops gradually, initially showing subtle signs:
- Neck stiffness after sleep.
- Headache.
- Vision problems.
- Dizziness.
- Muscle weakness and other symptoms.
The patient may complain of headaches and dizziness.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis are similar to a huge list of diseases, so it is not possible to determine the problem immediately, but only in the transition to the next stages. Often, patients turn to professional help when it is almost impossible to restore the mobility of the spine. The necessary treatment is prescribed only by a doctor, based on the examination and data on the primary location of the attack, its nature and duration.
Causes of the disease "Osteochondrosis"
The reasons that cause changes in the intervertebral discs are not fully understood. People begin to feel manifestations of osteochondrosis most often after 35 years. The development and exacerbation of this disease is facilitated by various back injuries, static and dynamic overloads, as well as vibration. The older a person is, the more manifestations he has. But in recent years, more and more people aged 18 to 30 are complaining of back pain. There are many reasons for the early manifestation of the disease: poor physical fitness, poor posture and curvature of the spine, flat feet and excess weight. So, let’s highlight the main reasons:
- hereditary (genetic) predisposition;
- metabolic disorders in the body, infections, intoxication;
- overweight, poor nutrition (lack of microelements and fluids);
- age-related changes;
- spinal injuries (bruises, fractures);
- poor posture, curvature of the spine, hypermobility (instability) of segments of the spinal column, flat feet;
- unfavorable environmental conditions;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- work associated with heavy lifting, frequent changes in body position (turns, flexion and extension, jerking movements);
- prolonged exposure to uncomfortable positions while standing, sitting, lying down, when lifting and carrying heavy objects, when performing other work, which increases the pressure in the discs and the load on the spine as a whole;
- excessive physical activity, unevenly developed musculoskeletal system;
- spinal overload associated with foot diseases, as well as as a result of wearing uncomfortable shoes, high heels and pregnancy in women;
- abrupt cessation of regular training by professional athletes;
- nervous overstrain, stressful situations, smoking;
- hypothermia, unfavorable weather conditions (high air humidity at low temperatures).
Which is better ointment, gel or cream?
Means in the fight against such a disease as osteochondrosis are presented by pharmaceuticals in two basic categories:
- external: ointments, creamy preparations, gels;
- internal: tablets, injections.
You can fight the disease with the help of medications
Important! The use of external medications is prescribed by a neurologist or vertebrologist according to the patient’s medical history, based on the results of his examination and the chosen treatment regimen.
The ointment for cervical osteochondrosis is thicker in texture and stays on the epithelium longer than other external medications. The downside of the ointment is that it is corrosive to the skin and clothing. For example, if it gets on your fingers, you need to thoroughly wash your hands with soap in several steps, otherwise contact with other parts of the body and eyes will cause redness and irritation. Long-term coverage of the drug on the body surface prolongs the effect of its action.
Gel and cream are lighter. Once applied to the painful area of the cervical spine, the gel does not require rubbing, is quickly absorbed and does not irritate with a pungent odor. Rapid penetration of the gel into the skin ensures its immediate effect on the affected area and relief of painful spasms. Creams for osteochondrosis may contain beneficial oils.
As therapy, you can choose ointments, gels or creams
Types of medications for chondrosis
Pay attention to what groups of drugs are used to treat chondrosis. To treat chondrosis the following are used:
- analgesics (“Baralgin”, “Analgin”);
- chondroprotectors (“Chondroksid”, “Dolobene”);
- NSAID drugs (Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Naproxen);
- antispasmodics (“Mydocalm”).
All types of the above drugs may have different release forms . They can be prescribed to patients in the form of intramuscular injections, tablets or ointments, possibly gels.
Treatment of chondrosis must be comprehensive. Otherwise, it will not be possible to achieve a positive result. Therefore, simultaneous treatment with drugs from all of the above groups is important.
Pay attention to non-drug methods of treating chondrosis:
- Treatment of vertebral chondrosis with exercises from therapeutic gymnastics
- To learn the technique of performing a back massage for chondrosis, go to the page
- You can find out how heat and baths affect the condition of the spine with chondrosis here
Useful properties of ointments
In the scheme of complex treatment for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, ointments play an important role. Its beneficial properties:
- Counteraction to inflammation processes in cartilage tissue.
- Relieving pain spasm in the area of inflammation.
- Vasodilation, necessary after a spasm of muscles and nerve endings, to restore normal blood circulation and nutrition of the brain at the cellular level.
- Restoration of osteochondral tissues - the active substances of ointments (chondroprotectors) are able to penetrate the cells of the vertebral structure and saturate them with nutrients and regenerating substances.
The ointment will help relieve pain
What is chondrosis?
Chondrosis is characterized by the occurrence of degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs of the spinal column . This phenomenon often leads to intervertebral hernias, as well as a gradual change in the shape of the vertebrae and destruction of the latter.
Often chondrosis develops into protrusion and disc herniation
In addition, degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs cause pinching, and in some cases even damage to the spinal nerves and blood vessels leading to the spinal cord.
The following parts of the spinal column can be affected by chondrosis: cervical, thoracic and lumbar. These departments are subject to constant physical activity and take on significant loads every day.
The symptoms of this disease in various parts of the spine are as follows::
- Cervical region – pain occurs in the neck, occipital region and head. The soft tissues of the neck become inflamed and swollen. The slightest physical activity involving this part of the body brings serious discomfort and is accompanied by severe pain. Pinching of the spinal nerves in the neck can cause the development of brachialgia - simultaneous pain in the right or left shoulder, as well as in the corresponding upper limb. Or the cause of the development of radiculopathy is pain in the right or left arm.
- Thoracic region – there is pain in the chest area, a sensation of compression of the sternum, a feeling of “goosebumps” on the skin. The feeling of pain intensifies with inhalation and increases many times with coughing and sneezing. Unpleasant pain is felt in the intercostal space. When lifting the upper limbs, pain may occur in the area of the shoulder blades.
- Lumbar region - painful “lumbago” occurs with any physical activity. The pain may be constant and aching in nature. When moving and lifting heavy objects, the pain becomes unbearable. Numbness of one of the lower extremities or both at the same time is possible; partial or complete paralysis of the legs is not excluded. But paralysis of the entire lower body cannot be ruled out. There may be disruptions in the functioning of the genitourinary system.
Types of ointments
Ointments used to combat attacks of osteochondrosis are produced in the following varieties:
- The best ointments are made based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Their medicinal properties are aimed at relieving edema, counteracting the development of the disease, relieving painful spasms, and restoring mobility of the cervical spine.
- Chondroprotectors - active substances of this type are known for their wonderful properties for the regeneration of cartilage tissue.
- Warming with thermally active components.
- Cooling.
- Based on herbal ingredients - using natural substances, often used for homeopathic purposes.
- Complex action drugs help get rid of several problems at once: they relieve pain, relieve inflammation and swelling, and have an antimicrobial and antithrombotic effect.
Ointments against osteochondrosis can be of several types
NSAIDs
NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments are distinguished by their broad action in the fight against inflammatory processes by stopping inflammatory mediators. Added to their beneficial properties is a beneficial effect on blood vessels: improving their patency and reducing the risk of blood clots. The constituent medicinal substances increase the permeability of the walls of blood vessels, which increases the penetration of beneficial microelements into the blood.
Non-steroidal drugs effectively resist the destruction of the musculoskeletal system and are recognized as an excellent remedy for neck and back pain. The production of these ointments is based on diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, indomethacin or nimesulide.
"Voltaren" is characterized as an ointment of the NSAID category based on diclofenac, which relieves inflammation and pain, as well as lowers body temperature. "Voltaren" is effective for problems of muscle and joint areas, therefore it is actively used in rheumatology in various fields.
Cooling ointments
Cooling ointments are usually relevant in case of injuries, physical overload and intolerance to warming complexes. They are based on such drug components as camphor, mint extract or oil, menthol and other essential oils. Examples of ointments with a cooling effect are “Bom-Benge” ointment, “Ben-Gay”, “Reparil-gel”.
Using the ointment involves applying a small amount to the injured area by rubbing, repeating the procedure after a few hours, as prescribed by the doctor. The drug irritates the endings of nerve cells and stimulates metabolic processes. Due to the cooling effect, pain and swelling quickly disappear.
Warming ointments
Warming ointments warm the area of the affected spine. The effect is intended to relieve tension in the muscle structure as a result of spasms and normalize heat exchange in the area of the neck affected by osteochondrosis. These processes stimulate the acceleration of metabolism in tissues and regeneration at the cellular level, as well as the functioning of the circulatory system and nerve endings. Thus, thanks to the targeted action of warming substances, joint mobility returns to the cervical spine, pain intensity decreases, blood circulation to brain cells is restored and blood pressure is stabilized.
The general significance of warming ointments is to increase the effectiveness of the result in the complex therapy of osteochondrosis. The following products can be found on pharmacy shelves:
- "Finalgon"
- "Capsicam."
- Nikaflex.
- "Turpentine ointment."
- "Efkamon."
- "Apizatron" and others.
Due to the effect of skin irritation due to warming components, the drug may have an allergic effect. Therefore, before initial use, it is imperative to do a test on a safe area of the skin. To rub in all preparations containing warming complexes, you should use gloves and special attachments or spatulas. This will prevent the ointment from getting on the skin of your hands and further irritating unprotected areas of the body.
Finalgon for osteochondrosis is one of the most popular drugs, tested by many patients. Its warming effect of the active substance nicoboxil anesthetizes the neck, relieves tension and stiffness of the vertebrae. The use of the ointment is prescribed in a course by a vertebrologist or neurologist. To remove product residues, you should use vegetable or cosmetic oil, since the reaction with water causes a strong burning sensation on the skin.
Another effective remedy for relieving muscle spasms and inflammation is Capsicam. Its characteristic feature is a bright, specific smell. The ointment is rubbed into the skin localized in the area of inflammation in a circular motion until half absorbed. The ointment is based on camphor, turpentine and benzyl nicotinate, which stimulate blood circulation in the vascular system. The drug retains its effect for up to 6 hours. In order to increase the effect, you can cover the application area with a warm scarf, but you should not apply additional heat.
Important! The use of warming complexes is prohibited during the acute stage of osteochondrosis or an infectious-inflammatory process in the body at the time of treatment.
Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants are drugs that reduce blood clotting by inhibiting the formation of fibrin filaments. Their functional effect is to influence the blood coagulation process at different stages: they prevent the development of formed blood clots and increase the influence of endogenous fibrinolytic enzymes on blood clots. In pharmacology, there are two groups of anticoagulants:
- Direct action - reducing the active processes of thrombin in the blood (Heparin, Hirudin).
- Indirect action - affects prothrombin in the liver: disrupts its formation, which is involved in blood clotting (Pheninlin, Pelentan).
A direct contraindication to the use of anticoagulants is poor blood clotting.
A common remedy of this group is “Dolobene”. Ointment for osteochondrosis has proven its effectiveness in practice. It includes:
- Heparin is an anti-inflammatory component, has a resolving and healing effect, prevents the formation of blood clots in blood vessels (heparin-based heparin ointment can be used in complex therapy).
- Dimethyl sulfoxide is a local anesthetic with anti-edematous action, stimulates the metabolic reactions of cells and the absorption of complexly used medications.
- Dexpanthenol - enters into synthesis with epithelial cells and forms pantothenic acid, which is involved in anabolic and catabolic processes.
Chondroprotectors
Chondroprotective ointments for osteochondrosis in the cervical spine stop the process of destruction in cartilage fibers, and also stimulate the regenerative function of lost cells due to phosphorus-calcium metabolism. The active substances of the chondroprotective properties of ointments are chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. In this category, products are produced using either one component or both:
- "Mukosat."
- "Chondroart".
- "Chondroxide".
- "Chondroitin."
Active components promote the regeneration of affected areas of bone and cartilage tissue. For osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the ointment can be used for 2 weeks. It is recommended to rub in every 8–12 hours until completely dry. The use of chondroprotectors for joints significantly influences the treatment procedure for patients with advanced stages of disease.
Combination drugs
Combined action ointments are distinguished by their bouquet of beneficial properties. Considering the need for an integrated approach in the treatment of osteochondrosis, these drugs can most effectively support the therapeutic effect of the main treatment procedures.
These products fulfill all the conditions for combating spinal diseases:
- relieve inflammation in cartilage tissue and neighboring areas;
- relieve pain and discomfort;
- stimulate metabolism in tissues;
- help normalize blood circulation.
Active ingredients of a complex action ointment for cervical osteochondrosis: sodium heparin, dexpanthenol, dimethyl sulfoxide. Examples of the names of combination drugs are “Dolobene” - an effective remedy against inflammation in the cervical and other parts of the spine.
Homeopathic ointments
Homeopathy occupies a special niche in the prevention and treatment of neck osteochondrosis. Opinions differ about the use of this method of getting rid of spinal problems. But, nevertheless, in practice the effectiveness of this therapy has been proven, subject to caution and medical literacy in the use of medications.
Ointments for homeopathy for osteochondrosis are represented by the following list of drugs:
- “Target T” – restores and protects cartilage fibers, relieves pain and reduces inflammation.
- “Traumel S” – stimulates the strengthening of the immune system at the cellular level, restoration of tissues damaged in the spine, contains natural mineral components.
- “Zhivokost” – contains comfrey, which strengthens bone tissue and relieves pain.
- “Cabelnik Evalar” is based on badger, pork and mink fat, which helps relieve swelling and pain.
Homeopathic remedies have minimal contraindications and are considered safe. When prescribing ointments in this category, the main attention is paid to allergic reactions, since most of the active substances are of plant origin. The use of ointments is prohibited if the skin of the area of inflammation of the neck is damaged and the body temperature is elevated.
Ointments with bee or snake venom
In the production of ointments for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, diseases of the joints, and the spine, the use of bee or snake venom is often found:
- "Golden mustache" - bee venom.
- "Apizartron" - bee venom.
- "Atrocin" - bee venom.
- "Viprosal" - viper venom.
- “Viprotox” – snake venom and camphor.
Ointments based on bee venom produce analgesic, antiexudative, desensitizing and anti-inflammatory effects. Bee venom (apitoxin) is a combination of various biologically active components: enzymes, peptides, proteins and amino acids. The main ones are mellitin, MSD peptide, histamine, apamin, hyaluronidase and phospholipase.
Warming ointment is the best remedy for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck
Nicoflex is a complex action cream that has a local irritant, analgesic and absorbable effect. Dilates blood vessels, warms the skin and muscle tissue. Gives a feeling of warmth. Relieves pain.
Finalgon ensures gradual penetration of the active substance into the deep layers of tissue. Improves blood circulation, ensures targeted delivery of nutrients directly to diseased cartilage and vertebrae. Activates metabolic processes, warms, soothes pain. The maximum effect is achieved 30 minutes after application.
Capsicam warms up, relieves pain, relieves inflammation. The ointment is based on 5 active ingredients. Dilates blood vessels, raises body temperature in the treatment area by 1-2 degrees. It has a positive effect on nerve endings, relieving pain. Increasing metabolism and improving blood supply allows nutrients to be supplied directly to the diseased vertebra. There are no blood vessels in the spine, and with a decrease in physical activity, the supply of nutrition is reduced.
Improving blood circulation with the help of warming creams renews the supply of everything necessary to restore the functionality of the spine. After stopping use, the effect of the ointment continues for two weeks.
Making ointment at home
The practice of combating osteochondrosis allows for the preparation of medicinal products at home. Natural ingredients are suitable for anyone who is not allergic to prescription ingredients. The only disadvantage of such products is their short shelf life, so the required product will have to be prepared in small portions and often. Among fans of traditional medicine there are the following ointments and recipes for them:
- Oil mixture with horseradish added: finely chopped horseradish leaves are ground with butter in a 2:1 ratio.
- Infusion of coltsfoot: the flowers of the plant are infused in ammonia for 4 weeks.
- Ointment based on nutria fat: nutria fat (150 g) is melted in a water bath with beeswax (1-2 tbsp.), cool slightly and add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of ammonia.
Ointment can be prepared at home
Contraindications and side effects
The main positive feature of using external agents in combination against cervical osteochondrosis is the minimal presence of side effects. This is explained by the low absorption of substances in the blood (5-6%). The ointment, being absorbed in the area of application, acts only on a specific local area, without affecting the functioning of internal organs. However, there are contraindications for use:
- pregnant women;
- patients under 12 years of age;
- heart failure;
- instability of blood pressure;
- allergic reactions to components;
- skin injuries in the area of application, neoplasms;
- liver and kidney diseases of a chronic nature; manifestations;
- in some cases, bronchial asthma and other respiratory diseases.
Each drug is individual and is tolerated differently by different human bodies. It is necessary to adhere to the prescription of the attending physician and discuss all desired changes in medications in advance. When determining intolerance to constituent components, experts often advise trying products based on herbal natural active substances.