What chondroprotectors are prescribed for spinal hernia

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are diagnosed throughout life in everyone, therefore the issue of drug treatment of joints and cartilage always remains relevant. Spinal hernia is a common consequence of degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs and vertebrae, which affects the quality of life and the ability to self-care.

Treatment of an intervertebral hernia includes different groups of drugs for pain relief, maintaining normal health and relieving inflammation. All drugs can affect the symptoms, but it is impossible to correct the defect with any conservative methods.

Chondroprotective drugs for spinal hernia are an attempt to slow down the pathological process and start the regeneration of damaged cartilage and bone tissue. These funds are slow-acting, the result of their use is visible after a few months, subject to the prescribed course of treatment.

Chondroprotectors are symptomatic medicines for the treatment and prevention of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. They contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in their composition.

Chondroprotectors for hernia

All chondroprotective agents are divided into three groups:

1. The first generation - means of natural origin, consist of bone and cartilage tissue of animals.
2. The second generation is one-component products consisting of glucosamine, hyaluronic acid or chondroitin sulfate.
3. The third generation - multicomponent products, consist of chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, additionally include vitamin complexes and fatty acids.

Chondroprotectors are available in the form of tablets, creams, gels, ointments, capsules and solutions for intra-articular and intramuscular injections.

With a hernia of the spine, drugs are more often prescribed in the form of tablets and ointments based on chondroitin sulfate - these are the drugs Artron, Chondroxide, Mukosat.

How do they work

The positive effect of chondroprotective drugs has long been explained by a deficiency of glucosaminoglucans, because glucosamine in the composition of drugs can slow down the destruction of the disc and restore cartilage tissue, and chondroitin is part of cartilage proteoglycans. Then it turned out that there can be no deficiency as such, and chondroitin is not at all capable of penetrating into chondrocytes.

It is now believed that chondroprotectors are necessary for the treatment of the spine due to their anti-inflammatory action.

Each drug in this group has a different mechanism of action:

1. Glucosamine.

Glucosamine normalizes metabolic processes in bone and cartilage tissue. The substance helps to restore the joint capsule by increasing capillary permeability and enhancing bone mineralization. Glucosamine has anti-inflammatory, anti-exudative and antioxidant effects.

2. Chondroitin sulfate.

Preparations based on chondroitin sulfate have the following effects:

• stimulate the formation of cartilage cells;
• increase the activity of glucosaminoglucans;
• activate the production of hyaluronic acid;
• reduce the inflammatory process;
• prevent destruction of damaged cartilage.

The effectiveness of chondroprotectors for hernia has not been proven, but their use takes place, as the manufacturers claim.

When using these symptomatic drugs, one should not expect a visible result after the first course, because their action is aimed at restoring cartilage tissue, and this process in itself cannot be fast. After a few months of using chondroprotectors, many patients with a hernia note a decrease in pain and the absence of severe swelling.

Indications and contraindications

Chondroprotectors will be useful in the following diseases:

• spinal injury;
• dystrophic disorders of cartilage and bone tissue;
• rehabilitation period after spinal surgery;
• inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues.

Contraindications to the use of chondroprotective agents:

• the period of gestation and breastfeeding;
• allergy to the components in the composition;
• intolerance to a particular drug.

The most famous chondroprotectors:

1. Teraflex - capsules with crystalline inclusions, the drug contains chondroitin and glucosamine, is indicated at the initial stage of hernia, with osteochondrosis and protrusion. Side effects - tachycardia, migraine, dyspepsia, dizziness, swelling, allergies.
2. Dona is a powder for preparing a solution, the agent is taken orally, consists of glucosamine and additional substances (citric acid, karbovak, aspartame and others). Indicated for inflammatory diseases and osteochondrosis. Side effects - urticaria, itching, flatulence, constipation.
3. Structum - capsules containing chondroitin, titanium dioxide, talc, gelatin and other excipients. It is indicated for osteochondrosis and at the stage of protrusion. Side effects - vomiting, allergies. The drug is contraindicated under 16 years of age, in case of circulatory disorders and vascular pathology.
4. Chondrolon - one of the best representatives of the group, contains chondroitin, stimulates the synthesis of proteoglycans, improves metabolic processes in damaged cartilage, relieves inflammation. Already after one injection, you can feel a decrease in pain, but long-term therapy is needed to achieve the effect. Side effects - allergies and subcutaneous hemorrhage in the injection area.
5. Alflutop is a natural remedy consisting of marine fish extracts. The drug is prescribed in the form of injections, has an anti-inflammatory effect in osteochondrosis, joint injuries and arthrosis. May cause muscle and joint pain.
6. Kondronova - a drug in the form of capsules and ointments, contains chondroitin and glucosamine, the purpose of the application will be to ensure the elasticity of cartilage tissue and increase its strength. The drug is prescribed with caution for pathologies of the circulatory system and bronchial asthma, an absolute contraindication is pregnancy and childhood.

What drugs are indicated for a hernia of the spine

It is possible to select effective chondroprotectors for spinal hernia only after examining the patient's back and evaluating the results of laboratory tests. In the pathology of the intervertebral disc, drugs are prescribed in the form of injections, tablets and ointments.

Local remedies that will be effective for hernia include Artrin, Chondroxide, Chondroitin, Chondroart.

Chondroprotective ointments for spinal hernia:

• Chondroart - contains chondroitin 750 mg, diclofenac 750 mg, dimethyl sulfoxide 1500 mg, applied to the affected area of ​​the back up to 3 times, rubbed until absorbed, due to good penetration it quickly anesthetizes, but can cause skin redness and itching;
• Traumeel S is a homeopathic remedy used in the complex treatment of hernia, has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, the drug is effective after a back injury and inflammation, is applied to the affected area up to 4 times within 3-4 weeks;
• Artrin - contains chondroitin, is indicated for osteochondrosis, at the initial stage of a hernia and during the rehabilitation period, promotes the growth of new bone and cartilage tissue, prevents compression, reduces the severity of pain and relieves swelling, is applied to the sore back area up to 3 times, rubbed for several minutes, course application - 2-4 weeks;
• Chondroitin is an ointment based on chondroitin, indicated to normalize the metabolism of trace elements in cartilage tissue, stimulates regeneration, reduces the severity of inflammation, improves motor function, is applied to the back with a thin layer every 7-13 hours, the course of therapy is 3-4 weeks.

Injectable drugs are delivered by intramuscular and intra-articular injection, but drugs in this form are rarely prescribed for spinal hernia. Injections are much more expensive than ointments and tablets, which also leads to their infrequent use. Representatives - Artradol, Rumalon . Intramuscular administration contributes to the rapid entry of active components into the focus of pathology, but at the same time, the risk of adverse reactions is higher. The average course of treatment is up to 20 injections, after which you need to switch to tablet preparations.

With a hernia of the spine, a drug such as Toad Stone can be prescribed. This is a dietary supplement containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The drug is available in the form of capsules for oral administration. The duration of treatment is 1-1.5 months, the remedy is taken 3 times a day.

Chondroprotectors can also be prescribed for children and pregnant women, but only the attending physician makes the decision. The safest remedies include homeopathic ointments and gels.

Reviews and price

The proven medicines that doctors prescribe for most hernia patients include homeopathic gels Cel T and Traumeel S. They contain mineral components, organic substances and cartilage hydrolysates. Inexpensive medicines include Hondrolon, which is an analogue of Don, but costs several times cheaper. The best drug in terms of reviews and price-quality ratio will be Traumeel. Its average price is 450 rubles, while Teraflex costs from 900 and Don from 1000 rubles.

Natural chondroprotectors can be obtained from meat broth, jelly, soy, jellied fish.

It is not recommended to select chondroprotectors on your own, because each one has a different effect on the diseased spine with a hernia. Any remedy has limitations for use and side reactions.