Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and their 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, traditional ideas.

The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and their 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

Previously, it was believed that most cases of osteochondrosis occurred in women over 50 years of age. But in recent years, cervical osteochondrosis has "clearly 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 during movements, crunching, headaches, visual and hearing impairments, numbness of the limbs, chin, part of the face. Less often than men, women experience nausea. 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 injuries 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 subject to more severe stress. Than a man. For lack of muscular corset.
2. The hormonal factor affects the condition of the spine. Therefore, the appearance and exacerbation of osteochondrosis in young women causes pregnancy and menstruation, in mature women - the onset of menopause.
3. Women traditionally do many types of housework that require a slight bow of the head. It's bad for the neck. One of the signs of injury to the 7th cervical vertebra was even given a name "female" - "widow's hump" or "housewife roller". In men, this symptom practically does not occur.
4. Other types of work with the head slightly tilted forward lead to the same result. This position has to be occupied at a computer or at a table, and among women there are many representatives of "sedentary" professions (teachers, secretaries, cashiers, dispatchers).
5. Elderly women who have reached retirement age, under the influence of irrational traditions, "wave to themselves". They stop monitoring their weight and lead a sedentary lifestyle. These are favorable conditions for osteochondrosis.
6. Women suffer from dietomania much more frequently than men. The 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 your treatment will give a positive result.

Pain syndrome: what pain can occur with cervical osteochondrosis

Pain is one of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis. But it is important to know what kind of pain can occur in cervical osteochondrosis. This is necessary in order not to treat a non-existent disease ineffective instead of osteochondrosis and not to miss the threatening symptoms masked as osteochondrosis.

More often, in osteochondrosis, there is pain in the neck: acute when moving or opaque, 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 compression of the deformed vertebrae and discs of nerve roots and blood vessels.

1. The head can hurt in different areas (depending on which vertebrae are damaged). This pain can be confused with migraine, neuritis, manifestation of VSD.
2. Sometimes there is pain in the shoulder, especially when trying to raise the arm. It makes no sense to treat bursitis.
3. Pain can radiate to the entire arm. This symptom usually works only 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 lumbago and dull muscle tension pain. But as the disease develops, the lumbago can become literally intolerable and deprive the patient of the opportunity to move his head completely.

Osteochondrosis with root syndrome in women

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

Root syndrome manifests itself in a severe severity of symptoms - intense pain and inflammation, dizziness, fainting, panic attacks. It occurs only if the disease has been treated poorly or has not been treated. This is the growing danger for women in our country - they tend to “resist”, “pay no attention to little things” or are content with folk remedies, and this is not always acceptable.

Osteochondrosis with root syndrome cannot be treated in isolation. It manifests when the altered discs are already protruding, forming hernias, and growths in the vertebral bodies. Serious diagnoses and professional impact on the spine are needed to stop this process. And pronounced symptoms cannot be removed with homemade methods.

Cervical osteochondrosis in women in the acute phase

Exacerbations of osteochondrosis occur periodically in all patients. You can determine the onset of an exacerbation by increasing the onset of symptoms and the appearance of new ones (the pain intensifies, headaches or blackouts, vision problems, insomnia. . . ). In women, snoring during sleep can also be a sign of exacerbation. But it is more important to know what reasons can cause an exacerbation. And avoid them or be prepared to fight the disease.

Typical cases - a sudden change in lifestyle, great physical activity, infectious diseases, stress, trauma. But women also have specific physical conditions that can cause a deterioration in well-being.

1. Concerned about being overweight, women tend to resort to exhaustive diets. And nobody is interested in how it will affect health. And a radical diet can cause serious damage to the spine.
2. If osteochondrosis occurs, women should wait for it to worsen during menstruation or pregnancy.
3. The same can happen with the use of hormonal contraceptives - osteochondrosis is sensitive to hormonal balance. Affects joint health.
4. Menopause is a serious factor that affects the spine. Older ladies must be especially attentive to themselves. However, most patients with osteochondrosis are the same age.

Cervical osteochondrosis in women in the acute phase is treated in the same way as in men. In some cases, hormonal therapy (or its suspension) may be necessary. You must not act on your own; home treatment is used during the remission period.

Treatment of neck osteochondrosis in women: characteristics

Strictly speaking, there are none. Women are given the same drugs as men:

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

These drugs can be offered in the form of injections (in severe cases), pills or topical treatments. They are prescribed by a doctor. He also recommends massage and physical therapy procedures - without them, osteochondrosis treatment does not work. Corrective gymnastics is essential, and also for women and men.

What women are prescribed most often are sedatives. Although women (contrary to popular belief) are more resistant to stress, their nervous reactions are more pronounced. Hot temper, depression, panic can negatively affect treatment.

Folk remedies for osteochondrosis of the neck

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

You can use folk remedies to relieve pain - horseradish leaf or burdock, steamed celandine herb. The compresses should not be too hot - this is dangerous for the vessels in the brain. Homemade polishes are also suitable as a heating agent. You can prepare a mixture of mummy and butter (1: 1) or petroleum jelly with the addition of honey, mint and red pepper (in grams: 100: 20: 3: 2). Suitable for grinding and pepper vodka.

Baths with pine needles (you can use a ready-made extract) or sea salt and oak leaves are suitable during remission or for temporary pain relief.

And, of course, women need to exercise regularly and lead a moderately active lifestyle to strengthen the muscle 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.