Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and its treatment

Osteochondrosis occurs in women about twice as often as in men. The reasons for this lie both in the peculiarities of anatomy and physiology, and in the way of life, in traditional ideas.

The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and its treatment are generally similar to those that occur in men. But there are also special cases due to biological differences.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in young and mature women

It was previously believed that most cases of osteochondrosis occur in women "over 50". But in recent years, cervical osteochondrosis has significantly "rejuvenated", its detection in a 30-year-old woman is no longer a rarity.

The manifestations of osteochondrosis in women and men are similar: pain when moving, crunching, headache, visual and auditory disturbances, numbness of the limbs, chin, part of the face. Less often than men, women feel nauseous. But the prerequisites for the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease in representatives of different sexes are different. In men, this is most often caused by injury and excessive stress.

In women, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis depend on other factors.

1. Objectively, women have weaker muscles and bones: this is physiology. Therefore, a woman's spine is subjected to more severe stress. Than that of a man. Due to the lack of a muscular corset.
2. The hormonal factor affects the condition of the spinal column. Therefore, the appearance and exacerbation of osteochondrosis in young women provoke pregnancy and menstruation, in mature women - the onset of menopause.
3. Women traditionally do many types of housework that require a slight tilt of the head. It's bad for the neck. One of the signs of damage to the seventh cervical vertebra also received a "feminine" name - "widow's hump" or "housewife's roller". In men, this symptom practically does not occur.
4. Other types of work with the head tilted slightly forward lead to the same result. This position must be taken at the computer or at the desk, and among the women there are many representatives of "sedentary" professions (teachers, secretaries, cashiers, clients).
5. Older women who have reached retirement age, under the influence of unreasonable traditions, "greet themselves". They stop tracking their weight and lead a sedentary lifestyle. These are favorable conditions for osteochondrosis.
6. Women suffer from dietomania much more often than men. Violation of nutritional balance leads to the appearance of osteochondrosis and its exacerbations.

These factors cannot be avoided. But you can detect the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women over time, and its treatment will give a positive result.

Pain syndrome: what pains can occur with cervical osteochondrosis

Pain is one of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis. But it is important to know what pain can occur in cervical osteochondrosis. This is necessary in order not to treat an ineffective disease in the place of osteochondrosis and in order not to miss the threatening signs masked by osteochondrosis.

More often, with osteochondrosis, there is pain in the neck: sharp when moving or dull, aching for a long time. But this pain immediately suggests a spinal injury. It is worse when it gives to completely different organs. This is due to the compression of deformed vertebrae and nerve root discs and blood vessels.

1. The head can hurt in different areas (depending on which vertebrae are damaged). Such pain can be confused with migraine, neuritis, manifestation of VSD.
2. Sometimes shoulder pain occurs, especially when trying to lift the arm. There is no point in treating bursitis.
3. Pain can radiate to the whole arm. This symptom usually only works on one side.
4. The most dangerous option is pain in the chest or under the shoulder blade. It can be confused with signs of heart disease, even myocardial infarction. It's okay if osteochondrosis forces you to unnecessarily disturb the cardiologist. It is worse if the first signs of a heart attack are mistaken for osteochondrosis.

The intensity of the pain may vary. In the early stages, there is periodic low back pain and dull pain from muscle tension. But as the disease develops, low back pain can become literally unbearable and deprive the patient of the opportunity to move his head at all.

Osteochondrosis with root syndrome in women

If this phenomenon occurs in the lower back, it is usually called radiculitis. Its essence lies in the compression of the nerve roots that extend from the spinal cord from deformed vertebrae and intervertebral discs.

Radicular syndrome is manifested by a strong severity of symptoms: severe pain and inflammation, dizziness, fainting, panic attacks. It only occurs if the disease has been treated poorly or not at all. This is the greatest danger for women in our country: they tend to "put up", "not pay attention to the little things" or settle for folk remedies, and this is not always acceptable.

Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome cannot be treated alone. It occurs when the modified discs are already protruding, forming hernias and growths have formed on the vertebral bodies. To stop this process, a serious diagnosis and professional impact on the spine are required. And the pronounced symptoms cannot be removed by home methods.

Cervical osteochondrosis in women in the acute phase

Exacerbations of osteochondrosis occur periodically in all patients. It is possible to determine the onset of an exacerbation by increasing the manifestation of symptoms and the appearance of new ones (pain intensifies, headaches or fainting appear, vision is impaired, insomnia. . . ). In women, snoring while sleeping can also be a sign of exacerbation. But it is more important to know what reasons can cause an exacerbation. And avoid them or prepare to fight the disease.

Typical cases: abrupt change in lifestyle, intense physical activity, infectious diseases, stress, trauma. But women also have specific body conditions that can cause health deterioration.

1. Worried about being overweight, women are more likely to resort to strenuous diets. And nobody is interested in how this will affect health. And a radical diet can cause severe damage to the spine.
2. If there is osteochondrosis, women should expect it to get worse during menstruation or pregnancy.
3. The same can happen when using hormonal contraceptives: osteochondrosis is sensitive to hormonal balance. It affects the health of the joints.
4. Menopause is a serious factor affecting the spine. Older women should be especially careful about themselves. Yet most patients with osteochondrosis are their age.

Cervical osteochondrosis in women in the acute phase is treated in the same way as in men. In some cases, hormone therapy (or its withdrawal) may be required. You should not act alone, home treatment is used during the remission period.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck in women: features

Strictly speaking, there aren't any. Women are shown the same drugs as men:

• analgesics;
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• muscle relaxants for muscle relaxation;
• drugs to normalize blood pressure and relieve vascular spasms;
• vitamin complexes;
• chondroprotectors for the restoration of cartilage tissue.

These medicines may be offered in the form of injections (in severe cases), tablets or topical treatments. They are prescribed by a doctor. He also recommends massages and physiotherapy procedures - without them, the treatment of osteochondrosis can not do. Remedial gymnastics is a must, and it's the same for women and men too.

Very often women are prescribed sedatives. Although women (contrary to popular belief) are more resistant to stress, their nervous reactions are more pronounced. Irritation, depression, panic can negatively affect the treatment.

Folk remedies for osteochondrosis of the neck

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and its treatment are often associated with nerve reactions. Soothing herbal teas should be especially recommended for women. They can be prepared from lemon balm, chamomile, mint. There are ready-made herbal preparations on sale. This will improve overall health, sleep, and tune in to fight the disease.

You can use folk remedies for pain relief: horseradish or burdock leaves, steamed celandine grass. Compresses should not be too hot - this is dangerous for the vessels of the brain. Homemade ointments are also suitable as a warming agent. You can make a mixture of mummy and butter (1: 1) or petroleum jelly with the addition of honey, mint and hot pepper (in grams: 100: 20: 3: 2). Suitable for grinding and vodka-pepper.

Baths with pine needles (you can use a ready-made extract) or sea salt and oak leaves are suitable during the period of remission or to temporarily relieve pain.

And of course, women need to exercise regularly and lead a moderately active lifestyle to strengthen the muscular corset around the spine.

It is not so difficult to identify the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women, and its treatment is not impossible. It is more important that women themselves are more attentive to themselves and lead a rational lifestyle.