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, as well as in the way of life, traditional ideas.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and its treatment are generally similar to those found 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 occur in women "over 50". But in recent years, cervical osteochondrosis has sharply "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 movement, 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 symptoms of the disease in representatives of different sexes are different. In men, this is more 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 subjected to more severe stress. Than a man's. Due to the lack of a muscular corset.
2. The hormonal factor affects the condition of the spine. Therefore, the appearance and exacerbation of osteochondrosis in young women provoke pregnancy and menstruation, in mature women - the onset of menopause.
3. Women have traditionally done many types of housework that require a slight tilt of the head. It is bad for the neck. One of the signs of damage to the 7th cervical vertebra even received a "female" name - "widow's hump" or "housewife's 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 taken at a computer or desk, and among women there are a lot of representatives of "sedentary" professions (teachers, secretaries, cashiers, dispatchers).
5. Elderly women who have reached retirement age, under the influence of unreasonable traditions, "wave at themselves. "They stop monitoring 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 the 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 in time, and its treatment will give a positive result.

Pain syndrome: what pains with cervical osteochondrosis can occur

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

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

1. The head may hurt in different areas (depending on which vertebrae are damaged). Such pain can be confused with migraine, neuritis, manifestation of VSD.
2. Shoulder pain sometimes occurs, especially when trying to raise the arm. There is no point in treating bursitis.
3. Pain can radiate to the entire 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 bother the cardiologist. It is worse if the first signs of a heart attack are mistaken for osteochondrosis.

Pain intensity can vary. In the initial stages, there are periodic lumbago and dull pain from muscle strain. But with the development of the disease, lumbago can become literally intolerable and deprive the patient of the opportunity to move his head altogether.

Osteochondrosis with radicular 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 extending from the spinal cord by deformed vertebrae and intervertebral discs.

Radicular syndrome manifests itself with a sharp severity of symptoms - severe pain and inflammation, dizziness, fainting, panic attacks. It occurs only if the disease was treated poorly or not at all. This is the increased danger for women in our country - they tend to "endure", "not pay attention to the little things" or be content with folk remedies, and this is not always acceptable.

Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome cannot be treated on its own. It manifests itself when the changed discs are already bulging, forming hernias, and growths have formed on the vertebral bodies. Serious diagnostics and professional impact on the spine are required to stop this process. And pronounced symptoms cannot be removed with home methods.

Cervical osteochondrosis in women in the acute stage

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 occurs . . . ). In women, snoring during sleep may 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 sharp change in lifestyle, great physical activity, infectious disease, stress, trauma. But women also have specific conditions of the body that can cause a deterioration in well-being.

1. Worried about being overweight, ladies are more likely to resort to exhausting diets. And no one is interested in how this will affect health. And a radical diet can cause serious harm to the spine.
2. If there is osteochondrosis, women should wait for its aggravation 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 ladies should be especially attentive to themselves. Yet the majority of patients with osteochondrosis are their age.

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

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck in women: features

Strictly speaking, there are none. 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 cartilage tissue restoration.

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

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

Folk remedies for osteochondrosis of the neck

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and its treatment are often associated with nervous reactions. Soothing 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 to relieve pain - horseradish leaf or burdock, steamed celandine herb. The 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 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 vodka-pepper.

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

And naturally, 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 the women themselves are more attentive to themselves and lead a rational lifestyle.